The government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, plans to create a unit within the Ministry that would be responsible for the affairs of Gambians in the  Diaspora. This information was disclosed by Mamadou Tangara, the Foreign Affairs minister, during the official opening of a two-day consultative meeting between the government and Gambians in the Diaspora that sought to outline a comprehensive cooperation and collaboration for more sustainable national development, held at Kairaba Beach Hotel, in Kololi.

Minister Tangara said considering the advancements in information, communication and transportation technologies, it is envisaged that Gambians in the Diaspora would increasingly play a crucial role in the evolution of the country. “On the basis of my Ministry's additional mandate to be responsible for Gambians abroad, a unit would be established for Diaspora affairs within the Ministry,” he further said.  He informed participants that the implementation of the recommendations generated from the two-day forum would be coordinated by that unit in consultation and collaboration with other relevant institutions.

The Foreign Affairs minister further disclosed that plans are currently ongoing to equip Gambian embassies and missions abroad so that they can provide adequate and appropriate services that would promote trade and investment in The Gambia as well as the transfer of appropriate technology and the conduct of joint research and partnership with Gambians in the Diaspora. He then seized the opportunity to call on all Gambians inside and outside the country to partner in moving the country forward to achieve the objectives of the Vision 2020 for the ultimate benefit of all Gambians.

Minister Tangara acknowledged that the country is at a critical development juncture and that the momentum must be sustained, saying in an environment of improved macroeconomic stability and its consequent opportunities for investment, it is time to reinvigorate the entrepreneurial spirit of Gambians in the  Diaspora to enable their involvement as one of the major development partners. He opined that Gambians living abroad can provide financial capital for trade and investment that would generate employment and source of livelihood for Gambians.  “With the advent of E-banking, entrepreneurs in the Diaspora can now open and monitor their business bank accounts in their countries of residence on daily basis,” he pointed out.

He also made specific reference to the economic and social transformation in Asian countries and Latin America, saying it was all due to the collaborative efforts between those governments and their Diaspora citizens. “Recognising the significant contributions that the Diaspora can make in the development of African nations, the World Bank has established a mechanism such as the E-consult where Diaspora consultants would register for World Bank-funded projects,” Minister Tangara also disclosed.