BCC looks east for development partners

24 Apr, 2022 - 00:04 0 Views
BCC looks east for development partners President Uhuru Kenyatta

The Sunday News

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
THE Bulawayo City Council is set to “look East” in its development trajectory as it has since instituted talks with the port of Mombasa for a twining arrangement with the Kenyan city.

The local authority which already has twinning arrangements with the city of Aberdeen in Scotland and the city of EThekwini in South Africa noted that they will take advantage of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) set to take place in the city starting on Tuesday to engage with officials from Kenyan with the hope of creating synergies, partnerships and trade corridors.

This year’s trade showcase is set to be officially opened by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

President Kenyatta will also be honoured by having one of the city’s road renamed after him, with the unveiling set during this week. According to a council report, BCC officials noted that Mombasa is an important economic centre in Kenya and is home to the most important seaport in East Africa hence Bulawayo could benefit immensely from this partnership.

“Of note, the City of Bulawayo is yet to engage in twinning arrangements with African cities outside the Southern African region. This is despite the opportunity to exploit the gains emanating from implementing the African Continental Free Trade Zone, in order to consolidate the African economy.

Therefore, the City of Bulawayo seeks to re-imagine and look East, and take the opportunity to discuss twinning arrangements with the city of Mombasa during or after the ZITF 2022 to develop tourism and trade corridors. The engagement is important, since the President of Kenya will visit Bulawayo to officially open ZITF,” reads the report.

ZITF Preparations

The local authority further noted that the memorandum of understanding with the city of Mombasa will help foster and promote sound socio-economic relationships where opportunities for networking and partnerships of tourism synergies among many opportunities.

“The cities of Bulawayo and Mombasa can establish a common platform for engagement on various issues affecting their cities.

The parties may discuss the twinning arrangements during and/or after the ZITF, and later sign a memorandum of understanding. The MoU will foster and promote sound socio-economic relationships whereby opportunities for networking and partnerships are developed and enhanced. Of particular interest would be the establishment of tourism synergies, trade opportunities and Special Economic Zones,” reads the report.

BCC also noted that Mombasa was already a sister to the City of EThekweni, which therefore creates a tripartite trade arrangement, which will benefit Bulawayo to access the two biggest sea ports in the African continent.

“Furthermore, it is anticipated that the co-operation of two cities will promote the aims and objectives of the city of Bulawayo corporate strategy, National Development Strategy 1, Vision 2030, African Development Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The two cities will among other things, share best practices in technical expertise on trade, logistics, services, tourism and cultural exchanges. A draft MoU can be developed and agreed upon by the officials from the two cities,” reads the report.

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