Gambia to strengthen trade ties with Pakistan

[Sultan]

By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD – Gambia will strengthen its business ties with Pakistan in the areas of pharmaceutical equipments sugar, transport and electronics.
This was stated by visiting Foreign Minister of Gambia Babucarr Bless Jagne during a meeting with Federal Secretary Industries and Production Dr. Akram Sheikh, here on Thursday.
He evinced interest in the import of pharmaceuticals from Pakistan and establishing a pharmacy plant in the Banjul with the help of Pakistani investors.
The Secretary Industries informed the six-member delegation about the quality products of the engineering, automobile, electrical goods, textile, leather, chemical and general services.
He said that Pakistan can offer quality goods at cheaper rates to Gambian businessmen in the areas of sugar, cement and flour mill plants, buses of all types and tractors.
He said that Pakistan Government was also willing to offer 30 per cent credit facility with 20 to 25 per cent down payment, in these sectors.
He said that Gambia is a gateway to East African countries, and Pakistani government will give serious thought to installing pharmaceutical and other engineering plants through joint venture in Gambia.
Akram Sheikh was of the view that Gambian visit was the beginning of “South-South” cooperation which will contribute to make these states independents.
Speaking on the occasion, Babucarr Bless Jagne said that World Bank has allocated half a million US dollars line of credit to his government for procurement of drugs for which he along with Health Minister Dr Yankuba Kassama are visiting Pakistan to discuss modalities and procedure.
He said Gambia being the largest importer of rice in West Africa is interested in importing 150,000 tones of Basmati broken rice from Pakistan.
He said the delegation from Gamibian Public Transport Corporation will soon visit Pakistan to finalise the procurement of buses.
Babucarr said that President of Gambia will be visiting Pakistan on 23rd of March this year along with a large business delegation to explore the possibilities of further trade ties.
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