Chinese billionaire to visit Bulawayo

By Innocent Ruwende

Chinese billionaire William Ding is expected in the country on December 15 to explore investment opportunities in the property sector.

During his visit, Ding will address the Local Government Economic Development Forum 2015 to be held in Bulawayo at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

The conference, expected to come up with strategies on how to localise and implement post-2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, will be held from December 15 to 17 this year.

Ding, who is the chairperson of NetEase, one of China’s largest homegrown online game companies ranks number 10 on the Forbes China Rich List published this year with an estimated fortune of $8.2 billion.

The event’s spokesperson and social entepreneur, Ntokozo Msipha, said:

“Ding is expected to touch down in Bulawayo on December 15 and will have a meeting with Local Government Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Macro-economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Obert Mpofu and Zimbabwe Investment Authority chairman Nigel Chanakira.

“He’ll be here to look at investment opportunities in housing and property especially in the host city, Bulawayo. He’s most likely to be hosted for a dinner before he departs.”

In a letter inviting councils and other stakeholders in the sector, Kasukuwere said his ministry fully endorsed the initiative by the Local Government Economic Development Forum as a drive to promote local economic development throughout the country.

China has become the country’s biggest trade partner with trade statistics between the two countries peaking to nearly $1,2 billion between January and November last year compared to $1,1 billion for the whole of 2013.

Kasukuwere said: “Experience with the Millennium Development Goals showed that Local Government are essential actors in providing basic social service delivery and achieving goals on poverty, water, sanitation, education and health care.

“There is need to add impetus in our endeavour to achieve the post 2015 development agenda in general and ZimAsset in particular.”

Mayors, town clerks, heads of departments, civic society organisations, entrepreneurs and business executives are set to attend the conference. The Chronicle