The deputy Division chief, Africa Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) David Dunn, has stated that the Gambia economy has done well in the last few years, particularly in agriculture.

The top IMF official, who is also the mission chief for the Gambia teams at the IMF made this assertion during a brief interview with reporters Wednesday afternoon at State House, shortly after holding talks with the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh. Dunn said that given the fact that the world economy has been suffering, there are some aspects of the Gambia economy that has done very well, particularly agriculture, which he said helps to make things flow, even though tourism, for example, has been very weak. He expressed hope for a rebound in that sector, so as to boost the economy and make it continue to get stronger.
 
He also explained the purpose of his meeting with the Gambian leader. He said: “We came for a visit to meet with His Excellency the president. We are having preliminary discussions on the economic policies here in The Gambia; and we sought guidance from His Excellency the president and his priorities, he mentioned to us, are agriculture, which is a very important priority for the country, and infrastructural development.”

Quizzed on whether the IMF is looking forward to intervening in those sectors to boost the economy further, Dunn said: “Well we provide general form of support; we will not actually be involved in tourism or agriculture; but we do provide what we call balance of payment support. So we can help bring hard currency into the Central Bank [of The Gambia], which can help support the Dalasi and keep it stable.”

David Dunn was accompanied to State House by other senior officials from the IMF.