He was accompanied to the State House by Mambury Njie, the Gambian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. And, according to officials, the visit was meant to brief the Gambia’s vice president about the intention to bridge a mutual relationship between The Gambia Ports Authority and the Dubai Port World.

Speaking to reporters shortly after his audience with Vice President Njie-Saidy, Mr Hadi told journalists that they were in the country to see for themselves what exactly is at hand in The Gambia Ports Authority, and what exactly the Gambia’s Port Authority requires.

He told reporters that they intend to invest in the country’s ports in the quest to make it much bigger and vibrant. “After this visit, we will go back to our country to study a master plan for The Gambia Ports Authority,” he said, expressing hope of starting the initiative in the soonest possible time.

He then hailed Vice President Njie-Saidy for according to them the opportunity to discuss this very important initiative with her.

Momodou Lamin Gibba, director general of the Gambia Ports Authority, said his institution is one of the locomotive engines for the country’s economic growth, and that as such, they wanted to expand services at the Ports.

In generating revenue for national development, DG Gibba noted that they anticipate partnering with any development partner that want to develop the GPA.

Mambury Njie, the Gambia’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, described The Gambia -United Arab Emirate relations as ever cordial, both politically and economically. He maintained that their role as diplomat is to further strengthen issues of mutual benefits. He described the relationship with the two Ports as a starting point.