Folks,

If you recall, last year the government announced that it received approval
and financing from the World Bank to launch The Gambia's Trade Gateway
initiative. Since then, work on the Airport site where the first phase is
to be launched is moving at a very good pace. First class roads are being
built to connect the porposed free zone site at the airport directly to the
airport terminal for direct export and come January, infrastructure for
factories to set up shop would start to be constructed.

Already, six applications have been received from potential investors and
these are being evaluated. According to a GRTS announcement, four have
pledged to invest upwards of 30 million US Dollars and create 400 jobs
during their first year of operation. One that had been operating from the
GPA bonded ware house complex, Premier Agro industries that produces
groundnut oil for export to The UK has applied for more space and that has
been granted. Premier Agro has now taken over the previous groundnut oil
mill at Saro has is constructing two mills there. The old mill has been
completely demolished and construction work on the new mills are at an
advance stage.

In another development, they have also applied to export some of the oil
and animal feed that they produce to be exported to The Gambia and sold
locally. According to some reports, they now plan to fully process the
groundnuts that they turn to oil to enable them detoxify what used to
remain from their operations at the GPA to recover another 4% of oil and
produce from the waste chicken feed. This, it is believed, would go a long
way in alleviating the suffering of local poultry farmers who rely on
imported chicken feed from the EU and Senegal. It would also allow it to
export the same to other countries in Europe and the sub-region. And guess
what; they plan to directly employ another 300 or so people and indirectly
another 2 or 3 thousand.

Have a good day, Gassa.



--
There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see,
yet small enough to solve (Mike Leavitt)

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