GOVERNMENT and Bulawayo City Council (BCC) officials are set to travel to China this month to woo investors in a bid to turn around the fortunes of the country’s second largest city, once the industrial hub of Zimbabwe.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
The Ministry of Macro Economic Planning and Investment Promotion is co-ordinating the visit that would also see the BCC seeking a twinning arrangement with the Chinese City of Qingdao.
The proposed visit follows a roundtable discussion with a Chinese delegation held in Harare on January 6 this year, latest council minutes showed.
“The Ministry of Macro Economic Planning and investment promotion will be coordinating an Investment Promotion trip to Qingdao, China early May 2016. Delegates co-ordinated by the office of the Honourable Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province (Eunice Sandi-Moyo) are invited to take part in this trip to promote investment for Bulawayo,” latest council minutes read in part.
Bulawayo’s once busy industrial area has been deserted after companies closed shop, or relocated beaten down by the never-ending economic crisis.
Some premises have since been occupied by churches, and the Macro Economic Planning and Investment Promotion ministry said this should be turned around with investment from the Asian giant.
China has emerged as the country’s major trading partner over the years following the adoption of the Look East policy.
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The council minutes added: “His Worship, the Mayor councillor, Martin Moyo and the Honourable Eunice Sandi-Moyo participated in the initial round table meeting with the Chinese delegation in Harare on the 6th of January 2016.
This visit in May 2016 is a culmination of the talks done earlier this year.
“Bulawayo City Council is, therefore, requested to come up with a delegation of at least five people, which may include His Worship the Mayor and four other technocrats that will accompany the Honourable Minister to Qingdao, China. The revival of Bulawayo requires a joint effort that will guarantee the turnaround of industry in the city.”
Sandi-Moyo, acting town clerk Sikhangele Zhou, acting city economic development officer Brian Hlongwane and public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu will make up the BCC delegation to China.
According to Zimbabwe Investment Authority statistics, the Asian giant has remained Zimbabwe’s largest investor, accounting for 74% of the $134 million of the foreign direct investments pouring into the country during the first five months of 2015.
