Madam Speaker, 

COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION

35. Ensuring sustained economic growth in an environment of peace and stability remains at the forefront of Government policy, and at the centre of the country's relationship with International Friends and Donors.

36. In defining the foreign policy of the Republic of The Gambia , Government seeks to pursue strategic relationships for effective participation in international politics. Government also continues to participate in peace talks, and in contributing to peace-keeping efforts in the sub-region, in other troubled spots in Africa , and the rest of the world.

37. The Gambia joins hands with the Committee of Nations in seeking lasting solutions in areas of political unrest in the Western Sahara, and in the Darfur region of Sudan . Government participated in the Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in order to collaborate with friendly nations, the world over, in bringing peace and prosperity to mankind. Similarly, Government would like to thank all friendly Governments and countries, the Multilateral Financial Institutions, Banks, Organisations and Agencies that continue to provide assistances for the socio-economic development of the country.

38. Africa and the World have witnessed in July this year the successful hosting of the African Union Summit in Banjul , which is the hallmark of Governments achievements in 2006. This is certainly a manifestation of Government's commitment to African solidarity, in the quest for peace, progress, stability and prosperity for the African continent and peoples.

 

Sub-Regional Co-operation and Integration

39. The size and location of our country suggest that regional cooperation and integration is of central importance to the transformation of our economy, and, therefore, the Government has been working with other countries in the sub-region on the implementation of the various ECOWAS integration programmes and, paramount among them, is the drive towards establishing the Second Monetary Zone, as the first stage towards realizing the goal of a single West African Monetary Zone. The year 2007 will signify the fully operational year of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) following the decision of the Convergence Council in May 2005 to re-launch the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) project and the ECO currency in December 2009 under a restructured West African Monetary Institute (WAMI). 2007 will witness a full year implementation of the action plan of the Banjul declaration. At the sub-regional level, Government continues to enjoy friendly and peaceful relationships and co-operations, both at bilateral levels, and within the framework of ECOWAS.

40. On Economic Partnership Arrangements (EPAs), the Government has now formed a National Committee to help better understand the implications of EPAs, and to be able to defend the interest of the country during negotiations by a common national position. To this end, the Government, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Secretariat and the University of the Gambia , has organized a multilateral trade negotiation course for the National Committee Members in July, 2006 to build the negotiating capacity of the Committee.

 

 

-end.