India, Gambia ink protocol for consultations

New Delhi, Aug 20 (ANI): India and Gambia signed a protocol for consultations during the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Gambia, Mamadou Tangara.

During his four-day visit beginning on Wednesday, the visiting dignitary met Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur and thanked Government of India for assistance provided to the Gambia for its development, particularly in the field of human resource development and for the concessional lines of credits.

Mamadou Tangara conveyed his Government's desire to further enhance cooperation with India and sought increased cooperation in the field of human resource development.

Meanwhile, Kaur assured Tangara that India would consider any proposal from the Gambian side for increased bilateral cooperation especially for capacity building/training by way of human resource development in the Gambia in a positive manner.

She announced a grant of 500,000 dollars to Gambia to be utilized in the education and health sectors, and conveyed India's offer to set up one 'Hole-in-the-Wall (HiWel) work station in Gambia.

The visiting Minister also met Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal during his visit, besides having a meeting at National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), EXIM Bank and several other organizations of interest to the Gambia.

Mamadou Tangara will fly back to Gambia on August 22. (ANI)