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| Mr John Jenkins, SIFAX Group Managing Director |
Terminal
operator, SIFAX, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
the Government of Gambia to build and operate a dry port in the
country’s capital,
Banjul.
operator, SIFAX, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
the Government of Gambia to build and operate a dry port in the
country’s capital,
Banjul.
The
company was established to efficiently operate offdock facilities and
services of the Group, and is strategically located and accessible to
the major ports
from where it easily receives cargo as a temporary hold.
company was established to efficiently operate offdock facilities and
services of the Group, and is strategically located and accessible to
the major ports
from where it easily receives cargo as a temporary hold.
Ports
and Cargo Handling Services is the port operations arm of SIFAX Group.
The company is managed by a team of tested professionals, expatriates
and Nigerians
with proven track record of achievements.
and Cargo Handling Services is the port operations arm of SIFAX Group.
The company is managed by a team of tested professionals, expatriates
and Nigerians
with proven track record of achievements.
SIFAX Group Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Taiwo Afolabi, said on Wednesday in Lagos that the MOU was signed in Banjul by Mr John Jenkins, SIFAX Group Managing
Director and Mr Abdoulie Tambedou, Managing Director, Gambia Ports Authority (GPA).
Director and Mr Abdoulie Tambedou, Managing Director, Gambia Ports Authority (GPA).
According
to him, a dry port (sometimes inland port) is an inland intermodal
terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport and operating
as a centre
for the transhipment of sea cargo to inland destinations.
to him, a dry port (sometimes inland port) is an inland intermodal
terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport and operating
as a centre
for the transhipment of sea cargo to inland destinations.
He
said that the SIFAX group delegation also met with the Gambian
President Adama Barrow, where prospects of extending the company’s
investment plan to other
sectors of the country’s economy was discussed.
said that the SIFAX group delegation also met with the Gambian
President Adama Barrow, where prospects of extending the company’s
investment plan to other
sectors of the country’s economy was discussed.
Afolabi
said that the terms of the MOU included a multi-million dollar
investment for the building and operations of the dry port to decongest
the Port of Banjul
in a public-private partnership model.
said that the terms of the MOU included a multi-million dollar
investment for the building and operations of the dry port to decongest
the Port of Banjul
in a public-private partnership model.
He
added that SIFAX Group would not only open up Gambia’s economy but
would also build and operate a world-class inland container terminal.
added that SIFAX Group would not only open up Gambia’s economy but
would also build and operate a world-class inland container terminal.
Afolabi said: “SIFAX Group believes in making Africa the focus of its investment hub.
“We
are of the view that Africans stand a better chance to sincerely
develop and tap the array of business and growth opportunities that
abound in the continent.
are of the view that Africans stand a better chance to sincerely
develop and tap the array of business and growth opportunities that
abound in the continent.
“We
have been doing this in some West African countries and we are
sincerely grateful to the president for opening the doors of The Gambia
to us.
have been doing this in some West African countries and we are
sincerely grateful to the president for opening the doors of The Gambia
to us.
“Our
promise is that the country’s economy will feel our impact as we don’t
intend to limit our interventions to the maritime sector alone. We have
identified
other areas we will be willing to invest in the nearest future.”
promise is that the country’s economy will feel our impact as we don’t
intend to limit our interventions to the maritime sector alone. We have
identified
other areas we will be willing to invest in the nearest future.”
On
his part, Jenkins assured that the company would rely heavily on its
30-year-old business experience acquired working in various sectors and
countries to
turn around the country’s maritime sector.
his part, Jenkins assured that the company would rely heavily on its
30-year-old business experience acquired working in various sectors and
countries to
turn around the country’s maritime sector.
“We are delighted as a company to begin this journey of investing in Gambia.
“As a company, we have a record of success in all the sectors and countries we operate.
” We will bring our experience and expertise to bear in the running of the dry port.
“The
project will help in decongesting the Port of Banjul, create employment
for the people of Gambia and make the port very profitable and
competitive.
project will help in decongesting the Port of Banjul, create employment
for the people of Gambia and make the port very profitable and
competitive.
“These
are some of the values SIFAX Group will bring to the table,” Jenkins
said in a statement signed by SIFAX Spokesman, Muyiwa Akande.
are some of the values SIFAX Group will bring to the table,” Jenkins
said in a statement signed by SIFAX Spokesman, Muyiwa Akande.
Earlier,
President Barrow thanked the delegation for choosing Gambia for
investment, adding that the country needed a lot of local and foreign
investment to
grow the economy.
President Barrow thanked the delegation for choosing Gambia for
investment, adding that the country needed a lot of local and foreign
investment to
grow the economy.
He promised to provide the necessary enabling environment for SIFAX Group and other foreign investors to thrive.
