SESRIC held a follow-up meeting with the Central Bank of the Republic of The Gambia to explore opportunities for collaboration in banking, finance, and related areas. This meeting followed a bilateral meeting that took place on 3 May 2024 in Banjul, The Gambia, between H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, Director General of SESRIC, and H.E. Buah SAIDY, Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG).

During the meeting, Mrs. Maimuna JOHN-SOWE, Adviser at the First Deputy Governor’s Office, conveyed the CBG’s keen interest in collaborating with SESRIC in areas of Statistics, Research, and Training, with a focus on mutual benefits and the advancement of OIC countries.

Directors of SESRIC’s technical departments provided detailed briefings to the CBG attendees, highlighting the Centre’s mandate and showcasing relevant activities in the banking and finance sectors. They also outlined ongoing Capacity Building Programmes, including the Statistical Capacity Building Programme (StatCaB) and the Central Banks Capacity Building Programme (CB-CaB). Additionally, SESRIC’s publications, such as the OIC Economic Outlook Report and the report on Socio-Economic Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic in OIC Countries, were presented to the CBG representatives.

On the other hand, the CBG representatives expressed interest in SESRIC’s capacity building opportunities, highlighting the importance of enhancing their institution’s capacities. They emphasized the value of South-South and Triangular Cooperation as avenues for sharing best practices and expertise among OIC countries.

The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to enhance cooperation through shared initiatives aimed at advancing capacities in banking and finance and related areas.