A Canadian company, Management Holdings Limited (MHL) is set to commence operations in The Gambia in the area of housing development following the approval given to it to invest in the country by the president of the Republic. The officials of the company, who were led by their general manager and the vice president, Thursday evening had an interface with His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh at State House in Banjul, where they made a detail power point presentation showcasing the mode of operations, the capacity, and the modern technology the company uses for housing development.

Operating in about 80 countries across the globe, the company, according to the officials, has the capacity to build 1000 houses in 36 months. Partnering with the Kanilai Group Investment (KGI) and the Asset Management Recovery Corporation (AMRC), the Canadian company is poised to invest initially, over 40 million euros in the country, and will engage in the construction of low, middle and high level houses that will be affordable to Gambians. Aside housing development, MHL is engaged in other areas of construction such as the building of camps, hospitals, and so on.

Speaking shortly after watching the power point presentation, the Gambian leader said he was satisfied with the operations of the company, thus giving them his approval to kick-start operations in the country with immediate effect with a view to solving the housing problem, which he said has been one major challenge of his government.

“Our major problem today is providing appropriate housing for the appropriate level of the civil servants, men in uniform and for all Gambians that require housing. It is a major problem in this country and you coming in at this stage at the entry to my fourth five-year term is a welcome news,” he said.

Giving the nature of the scheme, President Jammeh underscored that it will be another boost to the country’s socio-economic development, while admitting that housing is one area they have not succeeded very well. He assured the MHL delegation that they have the full approval to start tomorrow.

His words: “I always believe in competition and I think Gambians will now understand the reason why we always want more companies to come in and compete maybe in the same area. This is because where there is competition there is always quality. “I am ready for today and if you are waiting for our approval you have our approval here. Whatever agreement you do with the AMRC that is the AMRC. We also have our own plan for the development of certain sites that of course we will need investors to come and see how best we can work together for the mutual benefit of the company, the government and the people of this country.”

The Gambian leader told the investors that aside from what they are going to do with the AMRC, he is sure that there are other Gambians that would want to engage them with their own resources to build individual houses. “Based on what you have presented, you may not be able to meet up with the demand because Gambians want quality and they want things to be done on time. So I think that you may have your hand too full,” he stated.

The president expressed his government’s resolve to work with the company in the execution of certain development projects in the pipeline, assuring that government will meet them in due course. The Gambian leader in underscoring consistency and timely delivery of services, told the investors that they want a permanent relationship in view of what he called the transfer of knowledge and skills, as well as employment creation that it brings to the country.

“We are really very satisfied and as far as you stick to what you say, we will have a smooth partnership,” he assured, while also craving the indulgence of the company to construct the three categories of houses they built in a strategic location so as to serve as an exhibition for the people to see for themselves.

Speaking earlier, the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, commended Alieu Ceesay, the consultant who brought the company to The Gambia, for what she described as a patriotic move. This, she said, is what is expected of a patriotic citizen, while also thanking the Canadian company for choosing Africa and The Gambia in particular.
She then spoke about the desire of the Gambian leader for a decent housing for the Gambians.

The minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye also underscored the importance of such an initiative, noting that the low housing scheme will be of great motivation to the teachers in particular, because according to her, most of them work until they retire, without a house.

Speaking at the occasion, Alieu Ceesay, the Gambian who brought the company to the country said his move to lure in the Canadian investors into the country is in response to the Gambian leader’s call for the citizens to contribute their quota to national development. He said: “Through your advice and encouragement, I have been able to bring Management Holdings Limited to the country with the technical knowhow for the construction of low cost, medium and high standard houses. They are in over 80 countries and they are doing an investment of over 40 million euros for their initial stage of investment in the country. They want to build a small city and their houses are affordable to Gambians, especially the civil servants.”

Speaking earlier, Mohamed Al-Aydi, general manager and vice president of the group made a detail presentation of their operations. The president and chief executive officer of the company, Mohamed Moctarr Jagne expressed their resolve to accompany the president with the vision he has for the people of The Gambia. “We want to invest and show you what we can do. Within three years, we can build 1000 houses. What we have is the best technology today in the world that people use to build houses, hospitals, and so on,” he stated.

He then solicited that all they need is the Gambian leadership’s support and guidance to kick-start their operations in the country in order to make the anticipated project very successful. Jagne also told the government officials that they don’t borrow money, but rather depend on their own capacity to do the work.

The ceremony was chaired by Momodou Saidy, director of Press and Communications, Office of the President.