It could be recalled that during the historic state visit to Turkey early this year, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh Nasirul Deen Babili Mansa extended an invitation to the members of the business community from the trans-continental nation to explore the vast opportunities in The Gambia. Since then the number of Turkish investors visiting Banjul has risen significantly.
The visit to The Gambia of the owner and chairman of the Board of Kuanta Construction Company, Mr. Bulent Kilincarslan is in line with that framework. His Kaunta Company does many construction projects, but its main area of expertise is
airport construction. The Company also has its aviation with jets and air ambulances.
Due to the company's international recognition, it has been awarded many contracts to construct airports in different countries. The latest airport constructed by the company is in Tanzania and now another construction of an airport is ongoing in Uganda.
During his engagements in the country, the top investor was accompanied to meetings by H.E. Ambassador Soner, with the secretary to Cabinet, Noah Touray; minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ousman Badjie; minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment, Abdou Jobe; the permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Abdoulie Jallow; the director general of Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Abdoulie Jammeh; and the acting managing director of the Gambia International Airlines (GIA), Ebrima Sallah.
In the meetings, the Turkish ambassador hinted that based on instructions by His Excellency, the president of the Republic of The Gambia for him to find the right person with the right company to construct a second "modern" airport in The Gambia, he could not find someone else better than Mr. Bulent Kilincarslan and his Kuanta Construction Company. In this regard, he expressed gratitude to Kuanta for honouring his invitation.
The ambassador highlighted Kuanta's interest in the construction of a second modern airport for The Gambia by giving reference to Mr. Kilincarslan's visit to The Gambia being his second time in just six months. He also noted that the company has interest in some of the ongoing projects of the existing airport; for example the Cargo complex project.
Both the diplomat and the visiting investor said that Kuanta is a powerful global company that is ready to provide financing for the construction of the second modern airport. They stressed the need for the relevant Gambian authorities to provide a state guaranty in a MOU of at least one or two pages to kick-start the construction process. The company is only waiting for green light from the relevant Gambian authorities to start feasibility studies.
H.E. Soner reiterated his desire to have more businesses and increased technical assistance between Turkey and The Gambia. In light of this, he expressed his desire to lure Turkish investors into this country. He cited his ongoing negotiations with authorities of Turkish Airlines to have direct flights from Istanbul to Banjul, which according to him, would help burst the influx of rich Turkish tourists to The Gambia. But he was quick to add that the teaming up of a modern airport, new hotels at the sea side and good infrastructure leading to these hotels would be very helpful in the development of the tourism sector of the country.
Mr. Kilincarslan also exchanged ideas with the relevant authorities at the GCAA with regards to the possibility of establishing aviation school, training school, connecting the new modern airport to be built to the old one, aircraft maintenance hangers, fail safe / contingency plan etc.
While Ambassador Soner and Mr. Kilincarslan expect a speedy feedback on technicalities involved, both expressed their appreciation and gratitude to all those who received them. According to them, they were not only received warmly, but also were encouraged by those who received them in their offices.
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