Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center Explained

Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center is a 14,000 square meters conference center in The Gambia, located in Kombo North/Saint Mary.^[1] The project began in 2017 and inaugurated in January 2020.^[2] The construction of the part was controversial because it the construction removed important land from the Bijilo Forest Park, a popular tourist location and natural space home to endangered Western red colobus monkeys.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

The conference center was built and funded by Chinese investment of US$50 million in the country. The center was treated as an important international gesture between the two countries, the first collaborative project since resumption of relations. The center was built in part to host the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The first major event in the space was the Annual General Meeting of the African Development Bank in August 2020.^[7]

The center was named after Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the first president of The Gambia.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ilolo. Patricia. 2020-01-15. The Gambia inaugurates Dawda Kairaba Conference Center. 2020-10-12. Construction Review Online. en-US.
2. Web site: 2020-01-11. Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Intl. Conference Centre Opened. 2020-10-12. The Chronicle Gambia. en-US.
3. Web site: Saving Bijilo Monkey Park and the Western Red Colobus Monkey. 2020-10-12. www.gambia.co.uk. en-gb.
4. Web site: 2018-05-06. Gambian activists block building plans in endangered monkey habitat Africa Times. 2020-10-12. africatimes.com. en-US.
5. Web site: No one has right to lease gov’t lands - Tourism Minister - The Point. 2020-10-12. thepoint.gm. en-US.
6. Web site: TEAM. CCE NEWS. 2017-09-15. Gambia builds conference centre at Bijilo National Park. 2020-10-12. CCE l ONLINE NEWS. en-US.
7. Web site: 2020-08-31. Gambia: Sir Dawda Conference Centre Hosts Maiden Event. 2020-10-12. allAfrica.com. en.