The European Union (EU) through its Banjul mission has committed an additional 28 million Euros into the financing of the Gambia National Transport Plan.

The additional fund was launched at a ceremony presided over by the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Wednesday at State House in Banjul. This additional envelop from the 10th EDF (European Development Fund) is meant to increase the amount of the original financing agreement; and it will permit to review the contract with Ballast Nedam Africa, as well as address the shortfalls of the ongoing identified national roads project in the country with a view to ensuring their completion with best quality.

In his launching statement, President Jammeh applauded the EU for the move, saying it compliments his government's efforts in poverty eradication given the importance a good road network plays in that regard. He also heaped praises on the EU Charge d'Affaires to The Gambia, Madam Helene Cave for what he called her sense of objectivity, commitment and dedication to the strengthening of relations between The EU and The Gambia. The president described any good road infrastructure network as a catalyst to poverty eradication given the fact that it enhances health and economic growth.

To this end, he harped on the importance of good road network to agricultural productivity. He said: "Most of the agricultural produce in this country are highly perishable and in most cases there aren't any market in the rural areas – they have to be transported to the urban areas for the market. "And because of the road condition people in Basse could not bring their vegetables down to Banjul for sale. And this has discouraged horticulture in the Upper River Region because the market becomes saturated and the prize and value of their product go down."

He further applauded the EU for what he called a wonderful gesture of friendship, acknowledging that they have helped The Gambia in the most critical area -infrastructural development especially road construction. He admitted that in all his government's development efforts, road construction remains the most expensive for them in view of the fact that apart from water and sand, everything else is imported. "So you have taken a huge load off our back and I want to thank you on behalf of the beneficiaries that include other nationalities. You have made a great contribution to our effort in eradicating poverty in this country. Today, time is money and a good communication road network is a big incentive to attracting direct foreign investment," the Gambian leader underscored.

He then proceeded to thank all those involved – the EU, the Ministry of Works, Construction and Infrastructure, the contractors and consultants, as well as all other stakeholders for their efforts in materialising the day. Given the current relationship between the European Union and the Gambia described as warm and cordial, President Jammeh in concluding his remarks requested for a full-fledge EU diplomatic mission in The Gambia. Speaking earlier, the secretary general and head of the Civil Service, Dr Njogu Bah, who is overseeing the Ministry of Works, Construction and Infrastructure, described the move as timely in that it will ensure that the interventions being carried under the Financing Agreement are successfully accomplished.

He said: "These additional funds will mainly cater for settlement of claims from the contractor – Ballast Nedam Africa, price escalation and other additional work. This addendum will also extend the implementation deadline of the Financing Agreement to December 2013." SG Bah explained that the road project is the major component of the Financing Agreement and accounts for over 90 percent of the funds. "The project which started on 14th May 2007 involves the reconstruction of the Barra-Amdallai, Mandinaba-Seleti, Trans-Gambia, and Soma-Basse-Wellingara roads. The original contract duration was 36 months and the contract sum was approximately Euro 39.2 million," he added.

The SG and Civil Service boss stressed that the success in overcoming the numerous challenges encountered in the implementation of the project is largely due to the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Finance as the NAO (National Authorizing Office); the Ministry of Works, Construction and Infrastructure as contracting authority; the National Roads Authority; the NAO Support Unit and the EU delegation. He then revealed that the government stakeholders involved in the project implementation have been consistently guided by one single overriding principle, which is "the completion of the roads to the highest standard for the benefit of the Gambian people".

Speaking on behalf of the minister of Finance, the Economic Planning and Industrial Development minister, Mambury Njie, said the launching of the additional fund demonstrates the EU's commitment to supporting The Gambia's development drive as outlined by government's blueprint, the Vision 2020, among other development programmes. Minister Njie maintained that road infrastructure support programme enhances development through promotion of a thriving rural economy for sustainable development. He posited that The Gambia-EU cooperation is a mutually beneficial relationship, which should not be defined as donor-recipient relationship but a partnership between nations sharing common values, aspirations and friendship.

The Economic Planning and Industrial Development minister then expressed hope that the roads project, especially the Trans-Gambia section will without doubt facilitate not only economic growth through improved access to social services centres, but also provide vital linkages between production fields and markets as well as contribute towards sub-regional integration. Both Minister Njie and SG Bah also commended the EU and Madame Cave for her personal commitment.

Also speaking at the occasion, the EU Charge d’Affaires to The Gambia, Madame Helene Cave maintained that although the roads project is by far the most important EU project in The Gambia; their partnership touches all sectors of the socio-economic life of the country. This, she disclosed cover main areas of intervention such as the rural and peri-urban water supply, food security, agricultural production enhancement -in particular the groundnut sub-sector; support to civil society and institutional capacity building.

"The Financing Agreement for the project 'Support to the Gambia's National Transport Plan' was signed in November 2005 for an initial amount of 44 million EUR (around 1.63 billion GMD), with funding from 9th EDF. At that time, two main objectives were first to fund an outstanding project for the rehabilitation or upgrading of a large part (around 50 percent) of the Gambian trunk roads network; and secondly to build the institutional capacity of the National Roads Authority. In July 2007, an additional 4.5M EUR has been allocated to the project mainly to replenish the contingencies budget line," Cave explained.

She went on to reassure the Gambian leader of the EU's commitment to assisting The Gambia in his will to developing the country along the lines of Vision 2020, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, and soon the PAGE (Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment). She also hailed President Jammeh for gracing the ceremony; something she said is a mark of his commitment to not only the infrastructure sector of the country but also Gambia-EU cooperation.

Also present at the launching were the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, and resident diplomats of the EU countries in The Gambia, amongst other dignitaries. The vote of thanks was delivered by Yaya Sira Jallow, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Works, Construction and Infrastructure.

The occasion was moderated by Momodou Saidy, press officer at State House.