Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Director General, South-East Governors’ Forum and 9th Senate Lawmaker, Senator Uche Ekwunife, has initiated plans that will birth Chinese partnership for trade and economic development of the South-East region.
Ekwunife, on 28th November 2023, engaged in a high-level meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jian Chun. The purpose was to explore potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities with the People’s Republic of China, focusing on enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the South-East region of Nigeria and China.
Ekwunife charged the Chinese government to establish a Chinese Visa Center in any of the states in the South-East. She also advocated for the establishment of a Solar Farm for the manufacturing of Solar power equipments in the area.
Ekwunife underscored the importance of reviewing existing visa policies and removing obstacle to visa application process, emphasising the need for an efficient system to facilitate easier access for South-East businessmen to China.
Ekwunife said that the potential establishment of a solar farm and the manufacturing of solar panels in the South-East region was a focal point of discussion that was aimed at expanding the market and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
She expressed need for the transfer of knowledge, expertise, and technology in partnership between China and the South-East Governor’s Forum.
She highlighted the importance of not only importing products and machinery but also learning and acquiring the skills and expertise necessary for sustainable development.
Reacting, the Chinese Ambassador affirmed the importance of the visa policy review and expressed the Chinese government’s willingness to consider from notable bodies and organisations in Nigeria.
He assured the Director General of the Chinese government’s commitment to provide an alternative to this problem to help cushion those effects of salient issues raised.
