Chinese billionaire to grace Local Govt forum Mr Willam Ding
Mr Willam Ding

Mr Willam Ding

Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
CHINESE billionaire Mr William Ding is expected in the country on December 15 to explore investment opportunities in the property sector.

During his visit, Mr 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.

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Mr 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 entrepreneur, Mr Ntokozo Msipha confirmed the visit.

“Mr 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 (Cde) Saviour Kasukuwere, Macro-economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Dr Obert Mpofu and Zimbabwe Investment Authority chairman Mr Nigel Chanakira.

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

In a letter inviting councils and other stakeholders in the sector, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde Saviour 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.

“This Initiative comes at the back drop of His Excellency Cde R. G Mugabe together with other Heads of States and Government having adopted the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations summit in New York.

“Experience with The Millennium Development Goals showed that Local Governments are essential actors in providing basic social service delivery and achieving goals on poverty hunger, 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 Zim-Asset in particular,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

Mayors, town clerks, directors/heads of departments, civic society organisations, private sector, public sector and entrepreneurs, board members and executives of companies are set to attend the conference.

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