Chinese interest in metro welcomed by mayor
THE Nelson Mandela Bay municipality yesterday welcomed further Chinese interest in the metro but said poor communication from Bhisho was to blame for the municipality’s absence from official functions at the weekend and on Monday.
Chinese Vice-President Dr Li Yuanchao completed a tour of two Nelson Mandela Bay manufacturing facilities ahead of Bi-National Commission talks with the government in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The visit signalled growing Chinese interest and potential for increased investment in the metro and the Eastern Cape.
China’s second-in-command – along with a government delegation – toured the greater Storms River area and TAG Yachts in St Francis Bay, as well as Chinese truck builder FAW and the adjacent Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in Port Elizabeth, where an R11-billion Chinese vehicle assembly plant, BAIC, is under construction.
While mayor Athol Trollip welcomed Li’s visit, he said yesterday that poor coordination by the provincial government meant the visit went mostly unnoticed by the municipality.
He said while he had been invited to a banquet with the delegation on Sunday evening other top municipal officials had not been.
“Neither the deputy mayor, councillor [Mongameli] Bobani, the [mayoral committee member for economic development, tourism and agriculture] councillor [Andrew] Whitfield nor I was invited to the event at Coega [on] Monday,” he said.
“Furthermore, the invitation to the banquet was presented to me late on Friday.
“At such late notice, my schedule was full, precluding me from attending.
“It is a pity the provincial government officials were unable to organise these events properly.
“As important role-players, governing the municipality with the largest economy in the province, it is only proper for the provincial government to have an open channel of communication with the metro.
“Thus, we look forward to the provincial government improving their communication and interaction with the metro leadership, in the interest of economic growth and job creation for our people.”
Trollip said the municipality wanted to thank the Chinese government for its investment in the Bay and the ongoing interest in continued investment.
“The recent sod-turning at the BAIC factory site in Coega was an important event to kick-start a very crucial project for the economic growth of our municipality,” he said.
“We look forward to growing these international trade ties with other significant partners around the world.
“Our sister Chinese city, Ningbo, continues to be an important partner of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality and we will work to build this partnership over the next five years.”