On Wednesday 12th June 2024, His Excellency Pa Musa Jobarteh, the Ambassador of the Republic of The Gambia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union visited the city of Ostend. He was accompanied by Mr Peter De Roo, The Gambia’s Honorary Consul for Trade in the Kingdom of Belgium..
Ambassador Jobarteh visited Ostend at the invitation of the Mayor, Mr Bart Tommelein and the team running the EU funded projects in the city of Banjul. The Mayor and team accorded a warm welcome to Ambassador Jobarteh and honoured him with the signing of the Golden Book and by raising the Gambian flag alongside the flag of the Kingdom of Belgium at the Office of the Mayor.
The meeting was held with the presence of Alderwoman Mrs Hina Bhatti, and Alderwoman Mrs Silke Beirens- both Deputy Mayors, Mr Peter Vanslambrouck- Coordinator of the Banjul Ostend City link project and Mr Jonas Scherrens-EU Project Coordinator for Banjul. The Ostende city team took time to brief and update Ambassador Jobarteh and delegation on the EU Banjul Project. They informed Ambassador Jobarteh that through the twinning between the city of Banjul and Ostend, the European Union has been funding a three (3) year project amounting to three (3) million euros being implemented by the city of Ostend. The project should have phased out last year, however, it has been extended twice and will finally end in November this year.
The project covers five (5) areas namely: Greening Banjul, the Crab Island project, Health Care, Waste Management and Capacity Building for the people of Banjul City Council. The role of the central government for continuity and sustainability of the projects was discussed as well as the challenges of implementation of the project. Ambassador Jobarteh on his part, thanked the team for their time and took note that the key role, though a bit late, of central government has been recognised to ensure the future sustainability of the projects to overcome the challenges that were highlighted.
Ambassador Jobarteh later visited the Port of Ostend and the Flanders Marine Institute.
