Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

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

¥300M RMB

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of Gambia
Country	Gambia
Start Date	Mar 18, 2016
End Date	Oct 17, 2029
Duration	4,961 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`56748`

Grant Description

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.

📋 Staff Comments

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.

📚 Sources & References

Ambassador Ma Jianchun went to the Gambia International Conference Center project inspection and guidance work
Total Chineese aid to the Gambia
Brief on Chinese Support to the Gambia as at July 2018.
Gambia to benefit from $48M Chinese grant
Ma Jianchun
Ambassador of the Gambia, sympathizes with China's aided medical team
Confucius Institute and Chinese-funded enterprises in Oka
Gambian President Barrow inspects the aid international conference center project
Ambassador Ma Jianchun met with Du Yi, general manager of Haiwai
Southwest China Design and Research Institute Co.
Ltd.
Ambassador Ma Jianchun met with Zhang Fangbing
Vice President of Jiangsu Construction Engineering Group
Ambassador Ma Jianchun and the Minister of Engineering of the Gambia co-chaired the sixth inter-departmental coordination meeting of the project of the aided international conference center.
Ambassador Zhang Jiming and the Minister of Engineering of the Gambia co-chaired the fourth inter-departmental coordination meeting of the project of the aided international conference center.
Ambassador Zhang Jiming and the Minister of Engineering of the Gambia co-chaired the third inter-departmental coordination meeting of the project of the aided international conference center.
Speech by Ambassador Zhang Jiming in Gambia at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the International Conference Center
Ambassador Zhang Jiming and the Minister of Engineering of the Gambia co-chaired the third inter-departmental coordination meeting of the project of the aided international conference center.
Yu Zirong attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the aiding Gambia International Conference Center project
BUDGET SPEECH 2018 - FISCAL CONSOLIDATION -FOUNDATION FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND SUSUTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT, “International Conference Centre will be completed on time”
President Barrow assured
Gambia
China Sign Agreement on Consultation Mechanism
Gambian President lays foundation stone for Chinese-funded conference center
Gambia: Barrow Inaugurates International Conference Centre
Chinese-built conference center inaugurated in The Gambia
The Gambia and China Sign $50 Million Grant
Banjul secures $50m Beijing grant for int’l conference centre
The Gambia International Conference Center, aided by China, is officially delivered
Speech by H.E. President Adama Barrow at the Inaugural Ceremony of the International Conference Centre
The groundbreaking ceremony for the start of the China International Assistance Center for the Gambia Project was held
Speech by Ambassador Zhang Jiming at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Aid International Conference Center in Gambia
Ambassador Zhang Jiming and the Minister of Engineering of the Gambia co-chaired the third inter-departmental coordination meeting for the Gambian International Conference Center project
Ambassador Zhang Jiming and the Minister of Engineering of the Gambia co-chaired the fourth inter-departmental coordination meeting for the Gambian International Conference Center Project
Ambassador Zhang Jiming inspects the construction site of the Gambia International Conference Center project
Ambassador Zhang Jiming and the Minister of Engineering in Gambia co-chaired the fifth inter-departmental coordination meeting for the International Conference Center Project in Gambia
Ambassador Ma Jianchun accompanies Gambia President Barrow to inspect the Gambia International Conference Center project
Ambassador Ma Jianchun presided over the project coordination meeting for Gambia
Ambassador Ma Jianchun Attends the Handover Ceremony of Aid to Gambia International Conference Center
Speech by Ambassador Ma Jianchun at the Handover Ceremony of the International Conference Center Aid to Gambia
The Gambia International Convention Center, which was built with Chinese assistance, was officially delivered
Saving Bijilo Monkey Park and the Western Red Colobus Monkey
No one has right to lease gov’t lands - Tourism Minister Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.

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Government of Gambia

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