Trip to China and Dubai was about bolstering economic relations
The recent official trip to Henan Province in China and Dubai by a North West Province delegation, led by Premier Supra Mahumapelo, was a necessary effort to strengthen the Province’s focus on Agriculture, Culture and Tourism as key economic growth pillars. This emerged today, Monday, 18 April, during a media briefing which was about giving feedback to the public about the outcomes of this visit.
Addressing the media today in Mahikeng, the Leader of Government Business who is also the MEC for Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development Manketsi Tlhape, said the purpose of the visit was to strengthen people to people relations and cement economic relations as encapsulated under BRICS.
She said the visit afforded the North West Province an opportunity to share the plans developed and adopted to grow the economy and empower its citizenry.
“The discussions with the Chinese delegation have identified several areas of co-operation and key amongst them are the development of Mahikeng airport into an international cargo hub working with the Industrial Development Zone of Henan, Agricultural projects and opportunities, Student exchange programmes, as well as promotion of tourism opportunities between the two provinces”, Tlhape told the media.
She added that while in Dubai where the delegation attended the 6th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), they had an opportunity to meet with the Vice President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and discussed possible areas of co-operation which include Education, Manufacturing, Technology for road infrastructure, Renewable energy, Agriculture, Tourism and Mining.
Tlhape who was joined by MEC Desbo Mohono of Tourism and Wendy Nelson of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development during the media briefing, said following the discussions the delegation held with the Ajman Chamber of Commerce in Dubai, a team will be put together once the MOU has been entered into, to start working on a concrete plan for implementation.
She added that the Provincial Government will ensure that this effort benefit all relevant sectors, including organised business in the province.
“The North West Provincial Government is pleased to inform the public that this visit created a perfect platform for the province to market itself through the work it does in implementing the National Development Plan (NDP). We remain confident that opportunities that will arise in the identified areas of co-operation will play a key role in creating job opportunities for our people and in growing the economy”, Tlhape said.
The visit to China was at the invitation of Vice-Governor Li Ya of Henan Province, who during his visit to the North West Province in October last year, invited Premier Mahumapelo to the 10th China International Investment & Trade Fair, this as part of forging strong ties and implementing the working relations between the two Provinces.
Subsequently, the Provincial Executive Council had during the third quarter of the last financial year, received and accepted an invitation from the Ministry of Economic Development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to attend a 3-day 6th Annual Investment Meeting which this Ministry hosted from the 11th of April.
Premier Mahumapelo’s delegation to China and Dubai included amongst others, MECs for departments of Agriculture, Culture and Tourism (ACT), and Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, as well as the North West Development Corporation (NWDC).
For enquiries, contact:
Brian Setswambung
Cell: 076 012 4501
E-mail: bsetswambung@nwpg.gov.za
