Another batch of four ambassadors, yesterday, presented their letters of credence to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh at State House, Banjul, affirming their willingness to consolidate cooperation with The Gambia.

This came a day after the presentation of four plenipotentiaries who presented their letters of credence to the Gambian leader on Tuesday.
The latest batch comprised Ambassador Giuseppe Calvetta of Italy, Ambassador Mohamed Gamal Eldin Mohamed Eleish of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ambassador Takashi Saito of Japan, and Ambassador Georgaountz Osgeorges of Greece. The four foreign diplomats, accompanied to State House by Foreign Affairs Secretary of State, Crispin Grey-Johnson, received a red-carpet reception.

Speaking in a brief interview with journalists, shortly after his audience with President Jammeh, the Italian Ambassador Calvetta, said he discussed possibilities of cooperation in different areas, including technical assistance and commerce.

For his part, the Egyptian Ambassador Eleish told journalists that he will focus on developing projects in "industries and commerce. I am satisfied with my meeting today and yesterday with the Gambian officials". Ambassador Eleish, who was upbeat about the cooperation between Banjul and Cairo, expressed his resolve to strengthen relations.

Also speaking to journalists after his audience with President Jammeh, Takashi Saito, Japanese Ambassador to The Gambia, said his talks with the President centred on economic cooperation and international politics, noting that relations between Banjul and Tokyo have always been cordial. However, Ambassador Saito maintained that there is room for improvement.

"Cooperation in other areas is possible but it depends on the interest of the Gambian authorities. If there are very good projects, we are always ready to consider," he told journalists.

He added that the current cooperation focuses on water supply projects and food aid, which according to him, are intended to enable the people to benefit directly.
The Greek Ambassador to The Gambia, Georgaountz Osgeorges, informed journalists that he discussed possibilities of cooperation in tourism, saying that Greece is a "touristic country. Greece has a great experience as a tourist country". He disclosed plans to provide scholarships to Gambian students to enable them have foundations through courses in tourism.

Noting that he also discussed transportation with the Gambian leader, Ambassador Osgeorges observed that The Gambia is a gateway to neighbouring countries. He classed his country as having the biggest merchant fleet in the world and then confirmed that there can be a good cooperation to expand exportation for The Gambia. To this end, the Greek Ambassador said there will be concrete projects to set the ball rolling.