Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
A DELEGATION comprising Bulawayo city council officials and the Minister of State for Bulawayo Province, Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, is set to leave for China to undertake an investment and twinning arrangement with Qingdao City. The twinning arrangement is expected to revive ailing industries in the city. Such cooperation is in line with the Look East policy which was adopted by Zimbabwe more than a decade ago.

According to the latest council minutes, the trip is being coordinated by the Ministry of Macro Planning and investment Promotion. Qingdao City is one of China’s economic engines with its GDP growing by 9,2 percent and its foreign direct Investment reaching $5,52 billion in 2013.

The city has various special economic zones that can be beneficial to Zimbabwe.

In a letter written by Minister Moyo to the BCC, she requested a delegation of at least five to accompany her to China. “Delegates coordinated by the office of the Honourable Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province are invited to take part in this trip to promote investment for Bulawayo.

“His Worship the Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo and the Honourable Eunice Moyo participated in the initial round table meeting with the Chinese delegation in Harare on the 6th of January 2016,” read the letter.

She said in the letter that the visit this month 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,” read the letter.

It stated that Bulawayo may reap benefits that include training programmes coordinated by the twinning city, consulting organisations and academia in areas such as city treasury or fund management, operations management especially linking of different city departments, project management principles, implementation standards and rules of best practice in modern city management and administration.

Other areas include water reticulation, waste management and disposal as well as business opportunities in this sector of city operations.

Among those shortlisted for the trip are the acting town clerk, Sikhangele Zhou, director of Engineering Services, Simela Dube, acting economic development officer, Brian Hlongwane and senior public relations officer, Nesisa Mpofu.

Council has reported that the twinning benefits with the South African cities of Durban and Polokwane were visible with the former having assisted Bulawayo with a water master plan, among other projects.

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