‼️‼️HAPPENING NOW‼️‼️

The President of the Republic of SierraLeone Dr Julius Maada Bio is currently commissioning the Myohaung Officer’s Mess at Wilberforce.

This project is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of SierraLeone and the People’s Republic China, PRC, that included Military aid grants to the value of 50Million Yuan ($7.2 Million US Dollars) for the construction of a five-storey building comprising 104 rooms with all modern facilities for single officers.

The President will also turn sod for the construction of the warrant officers’ and sergeants’ Mess at Wilberforce Barracks, Freetown.

More details later.

Photo credit: Facebook Page of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa

More than 100 Chinese companies have committed to offering 20 000 jobs to South Africans in the next three years.  The Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Chen Xiaodong, said in a keynote address that he gave last Thursday at the 2022 Job Fair of Chinese-invested Enterprises in South Africa, which was held in Johannesburg.  He added that these opportunities cover different sectors, including infrastructure, communications, mining, automobile, and agriculture.

Organized by the South Africa-China Economy and Trade Association (SACETA), the Job Fair of Chinese-invested Enterprises in South Africa is an annual event aimed at creating employment opportunities for South Africans. According to a report by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, nearly 1300 people participated in this year’s fair among which were local students and job seekers. The participating Chinese companies were expected to offer 1000 jobs to local applicants during the event, local media reported.

Job creation, however, is only one of many means that China and South Africa plan to work on to boost employment in the African country. Some measures have also been implemented to develop the South African human capital. “China is ready to speed up the building of vocational training center projects. We are ready to provide employment assistance programs for college graduates and other special groups. We will also encourage Chinese enterprises to cultivate more competent professionals through the transfer of technology and skills training for local employees,” Ambassador Chen said.

Reducing unemployment in South Africa

Currently, unemployment is one of the main issues of concern among South Africans. Indeed, according to data released by Statistics South Africa last month, the unemployment rate in South Africa reached a record high of 35.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, one of the world’s highest. South African officials have therefore welcomed Chinese companies’ commitment to hiring more South Africans. “On behalf of our government, I wish to express our gratitude to the people of China for this important gesture which will undoubtedly contribute to our efforts to reduce the current 35.3 percent unemployment rate,” South African Employment and Labor Minister, Thulas Nxesi, said during the event.

According to Ambassador Chen, Chinese companies’ investments in South Africa have so far significantly benefitted South Africa’s job market. “South Africa is also one of the largest investment destinations for Chinese companies in Africa. By the end of 2021, China’s investment in South Africa totaled over 25 billion US dollars, which created over 400,000 local jobs,” he said.

Providing more opportunities for South African workers in Chinese companies

Chinese companies, however, have often been criticized for not hiring enough local employees in Africa in general and South Africa in particular. Earlier this year, several media reports discussed a court action that the South African government started against Huawei’s local subsidiary for not complying with the country’s employment policies. Such policies require that not more than 40 percent of the total employees of a company be foreign workers. Yet, foreign workers made up 90 percent of the total employees of Huawei’s local unit. The Chinese tech giant then announced that it would increase its local hires and ensure South Africans make up 50 percent of its staff by 2025.

In his address, Ambassador Chen pointed out that Huawei was among the 100 companies that pledged to provide more jobs to locals and is expected to offer 450 jobs to South Africans in the next three years. He also highlighted Chinese companies’ commitment to fulfilling their social responsibilities and following local laws and regulations.

An inner-city road project contracted by a Chinese company kicked off in Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city.

The 100 km project undertaken by SinohydroCorporation Limited includes drainage work, earthwork, and bituminous surfacing of the roads, which is expected to improve the road networks and facilitate transportation within the city.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Ghanaian Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia expressed joy that the Kumasi inner-city road project could begin on time.

“We are grateful to the Chinese government for the cooperation that has existed between our two countries. There is still more to come under our mutual cooperation,” Bawumia said.

Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Lu Kun commended the Ghanaian and Chinese engineers for sticking to their posts and carrying out excellent preparation for the start of the project, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I firmly believe that, with Chinese and Ghanaians joining hands, and with your wisdom and diligence, the project will surely witness a speedy and quality progress,” said Lu.

On Saturday, March 26, Senegalese President Macky Sall officially inaugurated the Foundiougne Bridge, the longest of its kind in the West African country. The 1.6 kilometer-bridge, which was named after former South African President Nelson Mandela, stretches over the Saloum River and connects the cities of Fatick and Foundiougne. The Nelson Mandela Toll Bridge should shorten the journey and reduce the cost of travel from the northern and central parts of the country to the southern natural region known as the Casamance. It should also promote the exchange of goods and people between Dakar and Banjul in The Gambia. In addition, the natural regions of Casamance and Sine-Saloum (in which Foundiougne is located) will reap various benefits from this new bridge. These include increased economic, cultural, and touristic activities as well as improved access to education and health.

A step towards realizing the Emerging Senegal Plan

According to a document that Senegal’s government information office released to the press ahead of the inauguration ceremony, the construction of the Nelson Mandela Toll Bridge was carried out as part of the ambitious program President Macky Sall initiated for the modernization and development of infrastructures in the country. Infrastructure development and modernization is a key priority in the Emerging Senegal Plan as it is considered essential for the structural transformation of the Senegalese economy.

In addition to highlighting these positive economic and social implications of the new bridge for his country, President Macky Sall also expressed gratitude for China’s support in realizing this project.

China supports Senegal’s infrastructure development

Chinese Ambassador to Senegal Xiao Han, who was also present at the inauguration ceremony of the bridge, wrote in an opinion piece that “the magnificent Foundiougne Bridge is not only a steel bridge by our side but also a bridge of friendship in our hearts, which connects the Chinese and Senegalese peoples.”

The construction of the Nelson Mandela Toll Bridge started in February 2018. A total of US$ 77 million were injected into this project, which was jointly funded by the Government of Senegal and the People’s Republic of China through its Export-Import Bank. The construction work was carried out by the Chinese company China Henan International Cooperation Group.

Moreover, Senegal has launched several other infrastructural projects intending to help the country reach emergence by 2035. As Ambassador Xiao Han pointed out, several of these infrastructural projects have seen the participation of China in terms of financing, construction, maintenance, and co-management.  A good example is the Ila Touba Toll Highway, which was financed by a Chinese loan and built by a Chinese company.kikk