By ISMAIL MUSA LADU
Chinese officials and businessmen have expressed
willingness to partner with district leaders and the government of
Uganda to turn towns and tourism sites into modern and commercially
viable attractions.
This was revealed by a delegation of mayors from
Chinese provinces, business representatives and leaders of business
associations and state enterprises in Kampala on Thursday.
“We would want to cooperate and partner with you
in areas of tourism promotion, agriculture, mining and extraction and
turning your towns into modern centres without losing its cultural
attraction,” Shandong province Vice Governor Xia Geng said during a
dialogue of governors and mayors of China and the East Africa community
(EAC).
The dialogue, whose theme was ‘business
development and cooperation’, was among others convened to interest
local business people into seizing opportunities that the two countries
have to offer.
In his presentation, the vice Mayor of City of
Benxi, Liaoning Province, Mr Rong Fengcheng, said they are interested in
particularly cooperating to promote tourism and culture within EAC
cities and towns.
In an interview with the Daily Monitor, Mr Johnson
Muyanja, the Mayor of Mukono Municipal Council said the initiative to
collaborate with provinces in China is a good move although it will take
the good will of the local authorities and the government to work.
Employment opportunities
“I am looking at partnering with the Chinese in areas of agriculture, fishing and industries. I want areas that will quickly result in employment of the many jobless urban youths,” he said.
“I am looking at partnering with the Chinese in areas of agriculture, fishing and industries. I want areas that will quickly result in employment of the many jobless urban youths,” he said.
Apart from him who had the economic and social
profile of his area of jurisdiction, no other official seemed to be
armed with that kind of information.
Businessman Fred Douglas Mwanja said he is interested in securing partnerships with provinces that are involved in agriculture so that he can start trading with them directly in agricultural products.
Businessman Fred Douglas Mwanja said he is interested in securing partnerships with provinces that are involved in agriculture so that he can start trading with them directly in agricultural products.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Local Government, Mr
Adolf Kasaija Mwesige said local government leaders should take
advantage of the relations to establish business partnerships.
The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Mr Zhao Yali
told the Daily Monitor that the delegates, who are about 100, are
interested in doing business and creating valuable partnerships with
Ugandans and the other EAC countries.
“Most of them are here for the first time. And
they have liked the country and the potential it has. And importantly
most of them are decision makers from the enterprises they are
representing,” he said.
The delegates, he said, want information on
several economic sectors so that they can quickly make a decision to
start partnerships in the respective sector.
No comments :
Post a Comment