A & A, a  Pakistan-Gambia based company in the manufacturing of passenger boats and fishing trawlers has sold its maiden MV HEND boat to a Freetown business enterprise.

The modern boat made in the soil of The Gambia successfully landed in Freetown waters after plying for 52 hours from Banjul. The arrival of the boat in Freetown showed a tumultuous welcome by Gambians and Sierra Leoneans in that part of Africa. According to Pa Matharr Jobe, captain of the boat, it took them 52 hours to reach Freetown and their target was 72 hours, noting that this showed how fast the boat is. He said the boat would be plying from Sierra Leone to Guinea Conakry and has a capacity of carrying up to 105 passengers and 20 tons of Cargo.

Riaz Mirza, managing director of the company told Daily Observer that his company is part of a large group that had its operations extended to Tanzania. He said it was established in The Gambia in 2007. So far, he added, they have built full-sized fishing trawler, which was praised and hailed by the people of the Gambia as well as the international press. The international fishing news, Mirza stated, prominently display its first fishing trawler in December 2007.

According to him, currently, two other trawlers and cargo vessels are under construction and that they are capable of building also tourist vessels, cargo vessels, luxury vessels and passenger vessels. He said they had also taken the task of  building a replica of classical vessels. Mirza said the use of the Gambian-made vessel can play pivotal role for providing pleasure trips and transportation to the neighbouring countries.  He said that with the A & A manufactured boat, it is easy and economical to transport goods to neighbouring countries.

He spoke at length of  the peaceful nature of The Gambia which motivated him and his colleagues to choose the country as their base to invest. He thanked the Gambian leader for his foresight and hard work towards transforming the Gambia into city-state. He also commended the Gambian people for their hospitality and for creating the conducive environment to stay in the country.