The Taiwanese plenipotentiary to Banjul has disclosed plans by the Taiwanese computer manufacturing giant, Asus, to explore possibilities of stretching out its tentacles to the shores of The Gambia.

Dr Patrick Chang made these remarks recently during the presentation of scholarships to 10 students and five sets of Asus computers to the University of The Gambia (UTG) at the Office of the Vice Chancellor.

Dr Chang revealed that the giant computer manufacturing company has plans to visit the country to familiarise themselves with the investment climate in the country and possibly set the ball rolling towards expanding operations beyond the Asian-Pacific region to the West Africa's Smiling Coast.

He confirmed that Asus was among a number of companies visited by President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, during his last state visit to Taiwan with a high-powered delegation. The firm has the capacity to manufacture affordable computers which are compatible with the climatic condition of the sub-region.

Follow-up

The move is in line with the content of the Taipei Declaration produced at the end of the first-ever Taiwan-Africa Heads of State Summit in September, last year. Information, communication and technology were some of the main areas of concern for development by the five African allies of the Asian-Pacific island state.

According to that document, which was signed by four heads of state and the Vice President, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, who represented President Jammeh at the summit, Taiwan will support its allies to develope and promote their ICT industry through foreign investment and the training of personnel, which is crucial in the face of the challenges being presented by globalisation.

Leverage

The Gambia's location in the African continent makes it a strategic gateway not only for African countries but even for the emerging markets in Latin America in both import and export trade.

Its prevailing peace and stability gives it a leverage over many countries in terms of secured investment and this is being boosted with a sound national information and communication policy that telescopes the investment outlook in the ICT and telecommunication industry.



The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Ebrima Jaw Manneh
11 January 2008