The Ministry of Works, Construction and Infrastructure in collaboration with the European Commission Monday convened a one-day workshop on the pre-identification study of feeder roads in The Gambia at the Senegambia Beach Hotel.

The pre-identification study is sponsored by the European Commission, and forms part of its’ funded projects on infrastructure and regional connectivity. Speaking at the ceremony, Bakary Malick Houma, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Works, Construction and Infrastructure said that transport plays a vital role in facilitating social interactions and economic development. According to him, transport infrastructure in The Gambia comprises of three sub-sectors namely: road network infrastructure, maritime and inland water transport infrastructure and aviation infrastructure (airports and airlines) and are key priorities of the government of The Gambia.

PS Houma stated that rural development is fundamental to The Gambia’s attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. "An improved feeder roads network will enhance agricultural production, small-scale trading and will also open up the hinterland to eco-tourism in addition to providing access to schools and health centres," he noted.

He explained that an important feature of improved feeder roads is that it reduces the disparities between rural and urban community poverty levels and hence improving the national poverty index. He on behalf of the government of The Gambia commended the European Commission for funding the pre-identification study of feeder roads and other infrastructure projects in the country. Helen Cave, the EU charge d'Affaire's in The Gambia presided over the opening ceremony.