Malick Jones, the principal producer of national news and current affairs at the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), left the country on Sunday for the Republic of China on Taiwan to attend a workshop on international journalism.

The 14-day workshop on Writing and Reporting for Press and Media Industries would run from 18 April to 1 May 2007.

The workshop is organised by the Taiwan International Corporation Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF).

Speaking on Friday in an interview with The Point, Mr Jones paid homage to the Taiwanese Ambassador in The Gambia, H.E. Dr Patrick Chang, for his interest in seeing the development of The Gambia, especially in its human resource.

He said Taiwan is fulfilling its responsibility to The Gambia in its strive to attain Vision 2020.

“Come 2020 the human resource or capacity of journalists in The Gambia must be equipped,” he remarked.

He said the workshop would enhance his knowledge and skills in international journalism, as he had attended a similar course in 2003 in the United States of America.

“I expect to learn a lot from Taiwan ICDF, interact with my fellow journalists in the international arena. I will also have the opportunity to prove that The Gambia, though small, has very dynamic people, and I am sure my participation will make a difference,” he noted.

Mr Jones left Banjul at 7:45am for Taipei in Taiwan via Brussels, London, and Hong Kong.