Taiwanese Ambassador Meets President Jammeh

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Sheriff Janko

27 April 2011

The president of the Republic Tuesday afternoon received in audience the Taiwanese ambassador to The Gambia at State House.

Speaking to reporters shortly after having audience with His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Ambassador Richard Shih disclosed that he was at State House to present the fruits of the first harvest of their ‘Pilot Pineapple Project’ in the country to the Gambian leader.

He explained that the project is a vision of the Gambian leader, to see if pineapple can be grown in The Gambia. He said: “We are happy after the pilot project, we are working together with the NARI, the Ministry of Agriculture and our Technical Mission, and we are able to successfully taste the pineapple and today we have the first harvest. So that is why we are here to present it to the Gambian leader.”

Ambassador Shih further disclosed that they intend to work closely with their Gambian counterparts for the continuous development of the project in the country, saying their intention is to replicate it to other areas in the country, just as they did at the Banjulinding Women’s Garden and its neighbouring areas.

Asked about the growth period of the pineapple, Ambassador Shih explained that it is about 14 months, but was quick to add that they have other documentations. He then stressed that pineapples can be grown very well in the country, and hinted that they will work with the Ministry of Agriculture in that endeavour.

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