By Buba Gagigo
President Adama Barrow attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The Gambia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and the Chinese company, TBEA. The event took place in Beijing on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
President Barrow is in China for the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), alongside other African leaders.
“H. E. Adama Barrow, on the sidelines of FOCAC 2024, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and a Chinese company, TBEA at a ceremony held in Beijing on Wednesday, 4th September 2024. Preceding the signing ceremony, the President of TBEA, Mr Xiao Zhi led the Gambian leader and delegation on a conducted tour of a digital presentation of the company’s activities, sharing its experience in the green energy sector, including the building of the Jambur Solar Plant in The Gambia,” the State House shared.
The statement also noted that First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, several Cabinet Ministers, Ambassador Madame Kinteh, Chief of Staff Mod K. Ceesay, business representatives from The Gambia, and staff from the Gambian Embassy in China accompanied President Barrow. They were also treated to an elaborate lunch at the TBEA office.
In another engagement, the State House reported that President Barrow met with representatives of Gambian students in China at his hotel.
“The leader of the students, Mr Omar Nget outlined their concerns, including delays in receiving their scholarships, and requested stipends for self-sponsoring students. Also, he informed President Barrow of the cordial relationship the student body has with the Gambian embassy in China and thanked them for their support. President Barrow expressed delight in receiving the students and appreciated their relationship with the Gambian Embassy in the People’s Republic of China. He acknowledged the friendly relations with the Chinese President, H.E Xi Jinping and the opportunity FOCAC presented to Africa,” the statement said.
In response to the students’ concerns, State House stated that the Gambian leader explained that government spending is governed by an annual budget, making it challenging to accommodate self-sponsored students. He emphasized that it is neither good governance nor best practice to seek additional funds that require Parliamentary approval. He also informed them that the Cabinet is aware of the difficulties faced by students in China and other locations and will evaluate their circumstances.
Furthermore, the State House noted that President Barrow assured the students that capacity building and youth employment through higher education are priorities within his Government’s reform agenda, highlighting the visionary development of the University of The Gambia campus.
“Despite the challenges, he added that his Government is committed to innovative and wise spending of the limited resources available amidst the high expectations, while calling on the students to support his Government’s plan in investing and preparing the youth as future leaders. “All our direction is towards young people, and education has the highest budget, with about 75% of UTG students on scholarship,” President Barrow said.
In a separate event, the State House reported that Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping hosted President Barrow, other Heads of State, and their delegations at a state banquet on Wednesday evening, marking the start of FOCAC 2024 in Beijing. The summit will continue over the next few days.