China’s Ministry of Commerce provides RMB 300 million grant for International Conference Center Construction Project in Gambia

In 2016, shortly after resuming diplomatic ties, the Chinese Government and the Government of Gambia signed an RMB 300 million grant for the International Conference Center Construction Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce was the source of funding. This project involve the construction of an international conference center — within Bijilo National Park near the Atlantic Ocean — with a floor area of 14,000 square meters, a 1,000-seat major conference hall, four 200-seat themed meeting rooms, one lounge, four pressrooms and news centers, 14 meeting rooms, office sections, banquet halls, and other accessory rooms. China Jiangsu Provincial Construction Company Ltd., a state-owned company, was the contractor responsible for implementation. The project commenced on August 30, 2017, and a formal groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 14, 2017. During the Ceremony, Ambassador Zhang Jiming, the Chinese Ambassador to the Gambia, gave a speech emphasizing the project as a new milestone in deepening and developing bilateral relations. On March 14, 2018, Ambassador Zhang Jiming and Minister of Transportation, Engineering and Infrastructure Qiao Bei co-chaired the third inter-departmental coordination meeting at the Gambia International Conference Center project. Both parties evaluated, communicated, and coordinated the implementation process of the project, and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project and the efficient cooperation between the teams of the two countries. On July 4, 2018, Ambassador Zhang Jiming and Minister of Transportation, Engineering, and Infrastructure Chobe visited the project site and co-chaired the fourth inter-departmental coordination meeting. As of that meeting, the construction of the project was progressing steadily, and the main structure would be completed in the near future and enter a new construction phase. On August 11, 2018, Ambassador Zhang Jiming, went to inspect the project site, listened to the report of the person in charge of the project implementation and management unit, inspected key parts of the project on the spot, and emphasized that the project is a flagship project of pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. On September 30, 2018, Ambassador Zhang Jiming and Minister of Transportation, Engineering and Infrastructure of the Gambia Joe Bey visited the project site and co-chaired the fifth inter-departmental coordination meeting. . As of January 8, 2019, the main structure of the conference center was complete, and the project has entered a second phase (involving decoration). On March 7, 2019, President Barrow of the Gambia went to the project site for an on-site inspection. Ambassador Ma Jianchun, Minister of Engineering Chobe, Government Cabinet Secretary Cisse, Presidential Press Director Hisarho, etc. accompanied him. President Barrow first listened to the report on the basic situation and progress of the project from the project implementation unit, the person in charge of the management unit, and the representative of the Gambia Engineering Department, and then inspected the construction site. On July 31, 2019, Ambassador Ma Jianchun and Gambia Engineering Minister Chobe co-chaired the seventh inter-departmental coordination meeting for the project. The project was completed on October 15, 2019, and the conference center was officially inaugurated on January 11, 2020. In honor of former Gambian President Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the conference center was named the Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre. The handover ceremony of the aid-to-Gambia International Conference Center project was held at the Bijiro project site in Guangxi Coast. Gambia President Barrow, Vice President Toure, National Assembly Speaker Denton, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tangalla, Minister of Engineering Chobe and other cabinet members, some members of Congress, some envoys in Gambia, representatives of international agencies in Gambia, and construction units of Chinese projects, Management units, representatives of Chinese-funded institutions in Gambia and medical aid teams in Gambia attended the event, and nearly a thousand other people attended as well.

Additional details

This project is also known as the Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre Construction Project. The Chinese project title is 冈国际会议中心项目 or 冈比亚国际会议中心项目. In email correspondence with AidData, Government of Gambia officials identified the face value of the grant that supported this project as $50 million. However, given that most large grants from the Chinese Government are denominated in RMB, AidData relies on the RMB 300 million estimate reported by the Chinese Government.

Number of official sources

29

Number of total sources

35