Despite the geographical distance between the two countries, the Philippines and Gambia have become close allies. The Gambia is some 9,000 miles away from the country, situated along the Atlantic Coast of Western Africa.
The efforts initiated in June 2005 by the establishment of an honorary consulate in Manila and, even more significantly, by the state visit of President Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh have borne fruit in the bilateral relations of the two countries.
Although long well-known and well–visited by European travelers for its beautiful beaches and high-class resorts, The Gambia is now also attracting greater attention from the rest of the world not only for its offerings in tourism but equally for its achievements in international relations, commerce and industry and medicine, among many others.
And finally, together with its celebrations in honor its 42nd national day of independence, The Gambia will be inaugurating the first Regional Eye Care Center for West Africa today. This center will further promote the country as a hub, not only in commerce but also in science and medicine, for the rest of the region.
Moreover, it will provide good opportunity to implement the bilateral discussions between Mrs. Arroyo and Jammeh during the latter’s state visit, which covered scientific and technical cooperation, as well as cooperation in the field of health and medicine.