Mogale City Acting Executive Mayor, Councillor Francis Makgatho expressed his appreciation of growing the city’s economy through a strategic collaboration and partnership between the city and the delegation from Jiangsu Province in China.
The collaboration which saw seven-member delegation from Jiangsu Province, descending on Mogale City on Wednesday, this week, will see the partnership growing the city’s economy in a variety of sectors ranging from agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, mining, education, amongst others.
Jiangsu is an eastern coastal province of the People’s Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its capital in Nanjing.
Addressing the entourage led by Wand Qi, Director General of the Population Resources and Environment and Mogale City officials, Makgatho said the partnership will strengthen Mogale City’s economy and assist in addressing high levels of joblessness which is standing at 53% as per the indications by the city’s Economic Development Services department survey.
Makgatho said although the city has high levels of unemployment, sectors such as tourism, agriculture and manufacturing are the flagships sectors of Mogale City, and collaboration with the Jiangsu Province will play a significant role in changing the lives of the people.
“We are very much impressed that the delegation from the Jiangsu Province in China saw the need to have a bilateral with Mogale City. This shows that we (Mogale City) are major role players in the economy of this country,” Makgatho said in his opening address.
“We are going to make sure that this collaboration works for our people and the people of Jiangsu Province. When opportunities arise on exchange programmes, we will create enabling environment for our people to explore those avenues and benefit from this strategic partnership, as well as agriculture, manufacturing and tourism,” Makgatho concluded.
Speaking through an interpreter, Harvey Lee, the leader of delegation Wang Qi, said his team is delighted to have visited Mogale City and are open to continue discussions and sign memorandum of understanding in future on matters of economic interest.
Wang, said he is pleased that Mogale City is also home to mine tailings, which they hope to assist Mogale City in rehabilitating. The mine tailings across the country have since become a hive for illegal mining.
“We are truly blessed to be welcomed to the City of Human Origin, and this collaboration will assist us to also explore the possibilities of collaboration on social, economic development and environmental issues,” Wang said, asking if his team will be taken on a trip to view the nearest mine tailings.
“Under the new context of jointly building the ‘Belt and road’, the prospects for cooperation and exchanges between Jiangsu and Mogale City are vast and significant. We eagerly look forward to further expanding practical cooperation with Mogale City, especially in strengthening deep cooperation in the mineral resources sector, to jointly inject new momentum into the economic and local development of both regions,” Wang concluded.
Mogale City Executive Manager responsible for Economic Development Services, Nomkita Fani, gave a detailed presentation on Mogale City Profile and Tourism Investment opportunities, which fascinated the delegation.
The team visited the mine tailings, near West Village and the Maropeng Interpretation Centre in the Cradle of Humankind. The former Executive Mayor of Mogale City Koketso Calvin Seerane was also in attendance.
Seerane played a critical role during his tenure when in 2006 established a sister city relationship with Wujiang District of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in China.
The Chinese delegation came to Mogale City through a local businessperson, Advocate Terry Mokale, when he attended 4thChina Gold Congress and Expo in July this year, and met the representative of the Population Resources and Environment.
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Soweto Sunrise News
