The vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, yesterday received in audience Don Riezebos, the international sales manager of Hoshizaki Europe BV; board members of Jammeh Foundation for Peace (JFP); members of the Junior Chamber International and Anda Ak Jamano Jammeh Workshop.

The Hoshizaki Europe BV boss was accompanied to State House by Anneke Telkamp, an official of Ice Queen Ltd. Hoshizaki Europe BV, according to officials, is the largest ice machine manufacturer in the world, with branches in Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The purpose of the Gambia visit is to seek possibilities for the establishment of a branch in the country.

Speaking to reporters shortly after his audience with VP Njie-Saidy, Don Riezebos, disclosed that Hoshizaki Europe BV is a Japanese company based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands that produces and sells ice. The company, he added, employs about ten thousand people worldwide. He said their vision and desire is to build an ice manufacturing plant in The Gambia through which they can supply other African countries in the sub-region.

He explained that their long-term plan is not only to create employment but also re-export to other African countries.For her part, Anneke Telkamp, of Ice Queen Ltd disclosed that she has been working with Hoshizaki since 1999 as the sole distributor of their machines in The Gambia. "We want to start immediately after finding possibilities so that we can establish a warehouse starting this year and hopefully to finish it next year," she added.

She disclosed that they have already sent some Gambian engineers for training in Amsterdam on technical areas. Therefore, she went on, "we are here to seek approval and acknowledgment from government to support us, as we want to make it bigger in the country," she noted

Presentation of farm produce by JFP
Next to be received by the vice president were officials of Jammeh Foundation for Peace (JFP). The delegation were at her office to present farm produce to the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, through the vice president, in support of the Presidential Treatment Programme (PTP).

The produce came from the farms cultivated by JFP, communities in Western Region and North Bank Region, as well as other institutions during last year rainy season. It included 48 bags of groundnuts, 207 bags of coos, 1 bag of rice and 6 and half bags of maize. On receiving the items, VP Njie-Saidy commended JFP for being real partners in the development process of the country. This, she added is a demonstration of patriotism.She finally urged the general public to complement President Jammeh?s ?back to the land? call.

Ardy Sarge, the chairman of the fundraising committee of JFP, thanked the communities and institutions for their swift response.Abdou  Kolley, the minister of Trade and Regional Integration, in similar sentiments thanked the board members of JFP for their active role in the development of the country while commending the various communities for their response to the Foundation?s call for assistance.

Momodou Sanyang, the director general of GRTS,  a board member of JFP, said the foodstuff will help facilitate the work in Kanilai, noting that many people converge there at all times. He urged others to emulate such gesture.Other speakers at the ceremony included Jeck Cham, Fatou Sinyan Merigan, all board members of Jammeh Foundation for Peace and Marie Saine-Firdaus.

Anda Ak Jaamano Jammeh Metal Workshop
Members of the Anda AK Jaamano Jammeh Metal workshop were also at the vice president's office to present 50 rakes to the Gambian leader through the vice president, for his development efforts and in support of his agricultural activities. They were accompanied to State House by officials of Jammeh Foundation for Peace (JFP).

Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the team, Modou Saine, said they are not farmers but can make tools that will facilitate easy work on the president's farms. He recalled that last year they presented similar tools to the president.According to him, he saw the president on TV last year appealing to the general public to go back to the land. It is in this light, he added, they are making this gesture.

Ardy Sarge, a board member of Jammeh Foundation for Peace, thanked the donors for their benevolent gesture and urged the general public to emulate them. For her part, Vice President Njie-Saidy thanked the entire staff of the workshop for the gesture, adding that the move alone is in response to the president's 'back to the land' call.She expressed gratitude on behalf of the Gambian leader to the donors and assured them of government's support.Sulayman Badjie, deputy executive director at JFP, chaired both ceremonies.

Junior Chamber International
Members of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) were the last to call on the vice president. According to the officials, JCI is a leading global network of young active citizens, whose mission is to provide development opportunities that empower young people, in a move to create positive changes in their respective communities. The members were at State House to formally introduce the organization, which was formed three months ago, to the vice president and to seek her blessing.

Landing Sanneh, the coordinator of The Gambian chapter, said the association is working on developing partnership with stakeholders with a view to empower both its members and the communities and is aimed at engaging youths in entrepreneurship, leadership as well as management skills development.

Speaking to reporters shortly after their audience with the vice president, Materne Bossou, the director for Africa and the Middle East, said he is in the country to work with young men and women to launch a national organization. "We are working with young men and women not to give them fish but teach them how to fish," he noted. According to him, to be a JCI member, one has to be between the ages of 18 and 40 and disclosed that they have 200,000 members across the world in 110 countries.