Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga says foreign trips by government officials are not useless expenditure contrary to perceptions held by certain quarters of society.

And Mushanga has charged that twining Central Province to Henan Province of China would enhance partnerships and linkages with local entrepreneurs by way of joint ventures and public private partnerships.

Speaking at Tuskers Hotel in Kabwe when he received a delegation from Henan Province, China, Mushanga said the visit by the Henan delegation had vindicated provincial ministers
for the trip to China in November, 2016.

“The coming of the Chinese delegation is as a result of the trip that was undertaken by provincial ministers in 2016. Their coming is evidence that the foreign trips that government officials undertake are not useless. It was during that visit when it was decided that the Provinces in China should be twined with Zambian Provinces,” Mushanga said.

The minister disclosed that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to twin Central Province and Henan Province would soon be cleared by the Attorney General’s office.

“The twining was supposed to be done today but MOU has not yet been cleared by the Attorney General. It would have been nice to have this MOU signed in Zambia but because of the reason I have advanced, the MOU will now have to be signed in China,” he said.

Mushanga said twining Central Province to Henan Province would enhance partnerships and linkages with local entrepreneurs by way of joint ventures and public private partnerships.

Mushanga said the twining programme would help to come up with a more structured approach to network Zambian and Chinese regions in order to leverage the various opportunities for cultural and economic cooperation.

“I am very excited with this twining programme because it will enhance political goodwill between Zambia and China so as to increase Chinese investment in strategic industries in Central Province. It will also promote and market Zambia as investment and tourist destination of choice to China. The twining programme will also facilitate skills transfer from our Chinese Colleagues to our youths,” said Mushanga.