In response to the invitation extended by the Republic of The Gambia, H.E. Mr. Abdelaziz Khelef, Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), arrives on 21 November 2007, at Banjul, capital of the Republic The Gambia. The visit is part of a regional visit that included the Republics of Senegal, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania, during the period from 14 November to 28 November 2007.                                                                         .            
During his visit to the Republic of The Gambia, H.E. the President of the Republic and the Secretary of State for Finance Department and other high-ranking officials will receive the Director General.

Talks will cover the mutual cooperation between the Republic of The Gambia and BADEA, with the objective of exploring the various means of promoting and developing this cooperation and realizing its objectives.

By the end of October 2007, BADEA’s assistance to The Gambia reached US $ 77.006 million for participating in financing 24 development projects. 

BADEA’s financing operations in Sub-Sahara African countries have expanded since 1975, reaching US $ 3354.127 million by end of October 2007. The allocations have been earmarked to finance 427 development projects, 407 technical assistance operations, 29 loans for the private sector, including 14 special operations (in the context of Emergency Aid Programme benefiting several African countries effected by drought and desertification), in addition to 59 loans extended through SAAFA.   

  BADEA’s operations cover all the 43 eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in addition to a number of regional organizations. The operations cover infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, rural water, electricity, rural roads, animal and fish production, energy, industry, social and the banking sector over and above technical assistance operations.