On the sidelines of the ongoing Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia, on Thursday, 7 July held a high-level bilateral meeting with His Excellency Mr. Joseph Schellhorn, State Secretary at the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs.
The strategic talks, held on Day Three of the international conference, focused on strengthening cooperation between The Gambia and Austria across several critical sectors. The two leaders engaged in forward-looking discussions aimed at deepening mutual ties and enhancing partnerships that serve both national and global priorities.
Among the key areas highlighted during the discussions were:
Peacekeeping and military support, with Austria expressing readiness to explore avenues of collaboration to enhance The Gambia’s contributions to regional and international peace operations.
Support for the Non-Proliferation Treaty, reaffirming shared commitment to global peace, disarmament, and responsible diplomacy.
Diplomatic capacity building, including the provision of scholarships for Gambian diplomats to study and train in Austria, aimed at enhancing the country’s foreign policy effectiveness.
Tourism development training, where Austria pledged technical assistance to boost The Gambia’s tourism sector—a key pillar of its economy.
Labour mobility and migration frameworks, with discussions centered on creating safe, legal, and mutually beneficial migration opportunities.
Amplifying small state voices on global platforms, as both parties emphasized the need for coordinated strategies to ensure the perspectives of smaller nations are effectively represented in multilateral forums.
Vice President Jallow welcomed Austria’s willingness to engage in such a broad and constructive dialogue, describing the meeting as “a meaningful step toward forging durable international partnerships that reflect The Gambia’s development priorities and global aspirations.”
“This engagement demonstrates our shared belief in diplomacy as a tool for progress,” VP Jallow noted. “Through collaboration with trusted partners like Austria, we can build stronger institutions, empower our people, and contribute meaningfully to global peace and prosperity.”
The bilateral meeting adds to a series of productive diplomatic engagements undertaken by the Gambian delegation in Turkmenistan, as part of efforts to position the country as a proactive and principled voice in international affairs.
The Third UN Conference on LLDCs continues to bring together world leaders, development experts, and multilateral institutions to address the unique challenges faced by landlocked and transit-dependent nations, including connectivity, trade facilitation, and sustainable development.
As The Gambia continues to participate actively in the conference, VP Jallow’s leadership underscores the government’s commitment to international cooperation and its vision of a stronger, more connected Gambia on the global stage.