Jammeh, who will meet with local businessmen tomorrow (Wednesday), the paper added, has called on Turkish investors to look into hotel construction opportunities in The Gambia.

“Gambia has significant tourism potential, but the country is lacking in hotels to accommodate tourists,” he was quoted as saying “We are ready to allocate any land they want on the shoreline [for the hotels],” Jammeh said.

Both presidents, according to the paper, underlined cooperation with regard to defence, touching on the fact that the Turkish Armed Forces have been training the Gambian army since 1991.

Gül said Africa was an important destination for Turkish businessmen and both countries were working on a free trade agreement.

About Turkey: Gambia ties 

Since The Gambia's first foreign mission in Turkey opened in 2010 and a Turkish embassy opened in the capital, Banjul, in 2012, bilateral relations have improved significantlyJ. The Turkish-Gambian Business Council was established in 2011 to provide a platform that will contribute to the development of bilateral relations in the areas of trade and economy. The two countries have also developed a roadmap for cooperation in the field of education, including Turkish plans to build new schools in Gambia in upcoming years.

Turkey and Gambia have signed another protocol to support cooperation between Turkish and Gambian businesswomen and boost business relations between the two countries.