By Ousman Saidykhan
The Gambia’s Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow told lawmakers that the country’s successful hosting of the 15th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on May 4-5, 2024, has significantly elevated its international profile and sparked investor interest. The event, which saw President Adama Barrow assume the OIC Chairmanship for the next three years, continues to yield economic and diplomatic dividends, Jallow said during a parliamentary session.
Responding to a question from Yaya Sanyang, the representative for Latrikunda Sabiji, about specific benefits derived from the OIC Chairmanship, Jallow highlighted a surge in demand for international conferences in the Gambia and growing interest from investors, particularly from OIC member states. “The successful hosting has resulted in an increase in demand for international conferences in The Gambia. After the hosting, there has been an increase in the number of investors from OIC countries requesting to invest in The Gambia,” he stated.
However, Jallow demurred when Sanyang asked him to name at least two specific investors in a follow-up question. “Honourable Speaker, at this point, I cannot name, but I can confirm to you that even myself, I have been approached requesting what type of investment we can make in this country,” he said, referencing a successful investment forum held alongside the summit.
The Vice President faced further scrutiny from Omar Jammeh, the National Assembly Member for Janjanbureh Constituency, who asked about the specific sectors attracting investor interest. Jallow referred lawmakers to the Gambia Investment & Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) for details, saying, “At this point, I cannot say. But like I said, all those investors that came have been directed to GIEPA. Maybe GIEPA can provide answers to those questions.”
Minority Leader Alagie S. Darboe, representing Brikama North, expressed frustration with the Vice President’s vague responses. “This question is directed to the VP. The onus lies on the VP to do his homework and whatever has been requested. He cannot direct us to GIEPA,” Darboe argued, pressing VP Jallow to clarify what he meant by “numerous investors.”
VP Jallow clarified that he was not directing lawmakers to GIEPA but lacked precise figures. He emphasized the broader impact of the OIC Summit, noting that it exposed The Gambia to new audiences. “When the conference was held, at least half of the delegates came; that was their first time coming to The Gambia. That means The Gambia has been exposed in many countries,” he said. He also revealed that investors from Algeria and other OIC nations had personally approached him.
In a notable development, Jallow disclosed that discussions with ECOWAS have secured The Gambia as a preferred venue for most of the regional bloc’s future conferences—a direct outcome of the OIC hosting success. “I want to remind this august body that conferences are held: one, to promote the country, and also to encourage investment. We don’t host conferences for development. Of course, you take the opportunity to develop your infrastructure, which is what we did with the OIC,” he added.
While the Vice President touted the summit’s role in enhancing The Gambia’s global standing, his inability to provide specifics left some lawmakers dissatisfied, underscoring ongoing debates about transparency and accountability in leveraging such high-profile events for tangible economic gains.
