III. CO-OPERATION AND INTEGRATION

i. Bilateral Relations

Mr. Speaker Sir,

17. Our foreign policy goals and direction continue to be dictated and motivated by the twin principles of enhancing our national development interests, and the pursuit and promotion of international peace and security. To this end, and in collaboration with our development partners, our diplomacy under the auspices of international financial and trading institutions continue to pursue fully bilateral and multilateral negotiations and discourses geared towards the socio-economic development of The Gambia. Let me take this opportunity to thank, once again, countries that have had and continues to have an excellent bilateral relationships with The Gambia, especially those that have actively taken part in our development efforts

18. As our development is linked with that of the entire Africa region, and the rest of the international community, we will continue to cooperate at the levels of ECOWAS and the EU as well as the U.N in order to lift the African continent in particular from its unenviable socio-economic position, and to ensure greater prosperity for all humanity. No meaningful development can take place in the absence of peace and security. Sadly, in our part of the World, the absence of peace continues to threaten the very viability of some societies and economies. It is with this in mind, and keeping with our international obligations that Gambia Government, as always, is in the forefront of peace initiatives in Africa and other hotspots in the World. The Gambia's participation in peace operations around the world is now well-known.

ii. Sub-Regional Cooperation and Integration

Mr Speaker Sir,

19. The Government continues to be committed to the ideals and principles behind the establishment of ECOWAS for the integration of the people and economies of West Africa. The Government continues to fully implement the various ECOWAS Protocols to enable the Community achieve its aims and objectives for the betterment of the people of our sub-region. At the continental level, Government continues to be fully committed to the African Union. We now have a full Diplomatic presence at Union's Head Quarters and have been, and will continue to be, an active player in this noble initiative.

20. At the wider international level, government renews our commitment to the Universal struggle against all the ills that threaten human security, such as terrorism, pandemic diseases like HIV/Aids, Malaria &Tuberculosis. We have ratified almost all the anti-terrorism instruments. We do so in the conviction that it is only through a collective response that humankind can be saved from the insidious threats.

iii. Relations with our Development Partners

Mr Speaker Sir,

21. Government's relationship with international organisations continued to flourish during the year. Prominent among our development partners are the Bretton Woods Institutions, the European Union, the African Development Bank, the United Kingdom (DFID) and agencies of the United Nations family.

22. The World Bank, through the International Development Association (IDA), is assisting The Gambia in the establishment of a sound macroeconomic and sectoral environment conducive to economic growth, rehabilitation and development of economic and social infrastructure, and development of human resources through the provision of efficient social services. Current World Bank projects in The Gambia include the Participatory Health Population and Nutrition, Third Education Sector, Poverty Alleviation and Capacity Building, HIV/AIDS Rapid Response, and Capacity Building for Economic Management, and the Trade Gateway projects.

23. In March 2003, the Board of Directors of the World Bank considered and endorsed the Gambia Country Assistance Strategy. The Bank commended the Government for its efforts in tackling the economic and social problems facing the country. The Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program with the IMF is currently under suspension and The Gambian authorities are working diligently to get this program on track.

24. The UNDP, through its Economic Management and Capacity Building for Private Sector Development Project, has committed over $50.0 million to support the Finance and Trade Departments and The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The project is expected to assist Government to build capacity, actualise Vision 2020 and promote private sector development. The programme will complement other initiatives being supported by the World Bank, African Development Bank and DFID.

25. Also, during the review period, the European Union under its Ninth EDF Programme, allocated 51.0 million Euros as a grant to the Gambia, with 37.0 million for existing programmes and the remaining 14.0 million for emergency needs. The EDF programme comprises Decentralisation, Rural and Infrastructural Development.

-end.