The Department of State for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters,  on Saturday received a fishing trawler donated by the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), at a ceremony held at the Banjul Seaport.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Yankuba Touray, secretary of state for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, harped the long standing bilateral relationship that exists between the two countries. He then added that The Gambia government would not relent in creating an enabling environment for private sector to participate in the developmental process.

Lack of fishing trawlers, SOS Touray said, is one the major constraints in this industrial sub-sector.

SoS Touray also disclosed that the government is working tirelessly in developing the fishing industry with the rehabilitation of the Fisheries Department.He commended the Iranian government for her benovelent gesture which, according to him, symbolises the true friendship between the two nations.

Officially handing over the trawler on behalf of the Iranian government, Saeid Zare, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to The Gambia, also dwelled on the existing relationship between the two countries. The Iranian plenipotentiary  further pointed out that his government is ready to cooperate with The Gambia government in all sectors of development, such as agriculture, economics, fishries, among others. As part of the bilateral relationship, he also emphasised that the Iranian government would maintain its potentials for strenghtening its outstanding relationship with The Gambia.

During his four-month stay in The Gambia, Ambassador Zare disclosed that he has been encouraging Iranian businessmen to come and invest in The Gambia as sister Islamic nations. Mustapha Landing Marong, onbehalf of the Managing Director of The Gambia Ports Authority, also commended the Iranian government for the gesture.Ardiatou Njie, director of fishries and Lamin Nyabally, permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Fisheries,Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, all expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to the Iranian government for the wonderful gesture.