>From: Momodou Camara <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Syrian to Invest $15 Million in Gambian Tourism >Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 07:56:27 +0100 > >My opinion is that this businessman should be advised to build a hotel that can >employ hundreds of Gambians than building 200 villas which might only employ a >garden boy, a cook and perhaps one maid. Imagine how much land this villa >project alone would demand to use compared to a hotel. Sometimes I wonder if >future Gambian generations would have access to the Atlantic ocean? > >Momodou Camara > >---------------- >Syrian to Invest $15 Million in Gambian Tourism > >The Independent (Banjul) >NEWS >November 22, 2002 >Posted to the web November 22, 2002 > >By Modou Musa Secka >Banjul > >A Syrian national, Mohamed Al-Ahmar, has planned to construct a 200-villa >project at the tune of USD15m, in The Gambia. > >Mr. Al-Ahmar, who has already invested USD7m to open one of the most modern >restaurants, Sultan Bar and Restaurant, disclosed that, presently he has filed >an application for plot of land at the Lands Office and is just waiting for the >approval to begin the project at the Tourism Development Area. > >In an interview with The Independent, Mohamad Al-Ahmar pointed out that his >restaurant, which was officially opened last month, situated opposite Taf Bel >Hotel, is so far employing 23 staff, all Gambians. > >He said that he is also commencing a boat restaurant in January 2003, which >would be the first of its kind in the West Africa region. > >According to him, the restaurant, which will also have about 25 employees, >would be touring the sub-region, ferrying tourists to and from their desired >destinations in West Africa. He affirmed that the boat has a capacity of 200 >passengers and is being equipped with all modern restaurant facilities. > >On his villa project, Mr. Al-Ahmar said it would be a big area, where a mosque, >church, school and hospitals will be built for residents. > >Mr. Mohamad Al-Ahmar, who has just spent eight months in The Gambia, said that >he is inclined to invest in the country because he loves The Gambia. He >reaffirmed that, because of the country's peace, the peoples friendliness and >political stability, he was keen to invest in the country. He also commended >the government for striving to make the country a tourist paradise. > >Mr. Mohamad Al-Ahmar, who is a Syrian, was born in 1956. He attended high >school in Dubai before graduating as a civil engineer from the University of >Pakistan .He has also gained vast experience in business and was in Saudi >Arabia for ten years doing construction work. He spent three years in the USA >running Restaurant business and eleven years in Dubai being engaged in general >business. > >Mohamad Al-Ahmar, who has the Gambia at heart, is married to a Gambian, Mrs. >Ahmar, who is the Managing Director, SULTAN BAR and RESTAURANT. > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface >at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html >To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: >[log in to unmask] > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~