By Haddy Touray
President Adama Barrow on Wednesday inaugurated the QGroup House, describing it as a symbol of confidence, ambition and national development.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Barrow said infrastructure openings should not only be viewed in terms of architecture and design, but also for their significance to national development and progress.
He said the event reflected growing confidence in Gambians’ ability to drive their own development agenda, adding that it should send a message to young people that development can be achieved through local initiative.
The President noted that while international partnerships remained important, The Gambia is increasingly asserting its capacity to lead its own development path through domestic investment, innovation and enterprise.
He commended QGroup for being founded, financed and built by Gambians, saying it has developed into an integrated business platform operating across several sectors and using digital innovation and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
President Barrow also praised QREC, the subsidiary that constructed the building, for demonstrating national capacity and professionalism. He said QGroup’s expansion beyond national borders reflects the competitiveness of Gambian enterprises.
He further described the company as one of the country’s major private sector employers and noted its compliance with tax obligations, saying this supports government efforts to deliver public services such as education, health and infrastructure.
The President linked the development to the government’s “Yiriwa” development agenda, which focuses on inclusive growth and economic empowerment across all sectors of society.
He said The Gambia is undergoing rapid technological change driven by artificial intelligence, digital finance and connectivity, adding that future competitiveness will depend on investment in infrastructure, skills and innovation.
President Barrow said government alone cannot build the future, stressing that its role is to create an enabling environment through stability, infrastructure development and policy support.
He said the QGroup House reflects this vision, highlighting the inclusion of The Gambia’s first data centre, which will store and manage national data locally. He described this as a milestone in digital development and an expression of digital sovereignty.
He also cited QCell Fibre and QCell Avenue as investments aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure and improving national connectivity.
President Barrow officially inaugurated the QGroup House, launched QCell Avenue, and commissioned the country’s first data centre and QCell Fibre services.
He urged Gambians to make use of existing infrastructure, promote innovation, and develop enterprises that contribute to national development, saying development should be created rather than awaited.
