China-Uganda ties foster progress
His Excellency Zhao Ya Li, the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda says bilateral relations between the two countries have continued to improve. He says this is reflected in the two countries’ continued economic cooperation
By Gilbert Kidimu
His Excellency Zhao Ya Li, the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda says bilateral relations between the two countries have continued to improve. He says this is reflected in the two countries’ continued economic cooperation. The amount of bilateral trade reached $538m (sh1.3trillion) an increase of 34.6% compared to 2011.
“Beginning this year, 95% of Uganda’s goods exported to China can enter the Chinese market with no customs duty and tariff,” he reveals. As for the Chinese investment, according to the statistics from the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), from 2011 to 2012, a total of 310 Chinese enterprises registered in Uganda and planned investments amount to $683m.
Last year, 45 Chinese companies registered in Uganda and the amount of planned investments reached $86m. In the first quarter of the year, investments reached over $15m , jumping by 2.3 times. More and more Chinese investors came to Uganda to explore new business opportunities.
Last year China National Offshore Oil Company, (CNOOC) signed the farm-down agreement with Tullow for the exploration of oil in Uganda. On roads, the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway took place last November. China Import and Export Bank will provide $350m of buyers’ credit fro this project. It is the first expressway in Uganda and the first Chinese financed road project. Over 1,400 municipal engineering equipment worth $100m financed by the Chinese government arrived last year.
It was given in form of a concession loan. The equipment will be distributed to all the districts in Uganda, to help improve and maintain the roads. “With continuous growth of China’s economic development and comprehensive national strength, China-Uganda friendship and all-round practical cooperation of our two countries will achieve new heights,” states Yali.
He pledges that his country will always support Uganda’s industrialisation process. He also assures Uganda of assistance with ‘no political strings attached and adds that both countries will maintain co-operation in infrastructure, energy, education and health and communication sectors.
CHINESE INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE YEARS
He says there has been significant progressin trade and economic cooperation between China and Uganda over the past 50 years. From 1993 to 2011, China’s investments in Uganda reached $596m, and around 265 Chinese companies opened their business in Uganda, creating 28,000 job opportunities for the local people. In 2011 the amount of bilateral trade reached $400m, with China’s exports to Uganda amounting to $359m, increasing by 43.7%.
Uganda exports to China totalled $40m, jumping by 49.5%. China unilaterally cancelled all the debts of interest-free loans before 2005 for Uganda. And from July 1 last year, 95% of Uganda’s goods could enter Chinese market duty and tariffs free. In addition, a number of projects were constructed with Chinese financial assistance. They include Mandela National Stadium, the Foreign Affairs ministry and the National Statistics Offices
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China marks National Day
Today, China’s National Day is far from being a day of rest. In Beijing, people swarm to Tiananmen Square to see the floral displays, or go shopping in Wangfujing, one of the city’s main shopping precincts. Cooking and eating a grand meal is also a must on this important holiday. The National Day of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) celebrated every year on October 1, is a public holiday. The PRC was founded on October 1, 1949 with a ceremony at Tiananmen Square. The Central People’s Government passed the Resolution on the National Day of the People’s Republic of China on December 2, 1949 and declared that October 1 would be the National Day. The National Day marks the start of one of the two Golden Weeks in the PRC.
The day is celebrated throughout mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau with a variety of governmentorganised festivities, including fireworks and concerts. Public places, such as Tiananmen Square in Beijing, are decorated in a festive theme. Portraits of revered leaders, such as Mao Zedong, are publicly displayed. The University Of Southern California U.S. China Institute published a review of national day celebrations between 1949 and 1999 and discussed preparations for the 2009 extravaganza.
A fireworks display is usually held nationwide in all cities, including Hong Kong, where a fireworks display to celebrate the National Day of the People’s Republic of China has been held since 1997 at Victoria Harbour in the evening. Many parades occur in the city of Beijing and some are very large.
The word National Day appeared in Chinese language as early as in the Western Jin Dynasty (265 - 316 AD). In ancient China, it usually fell on the day when the emperor ascended the throne or was born. Nowadays, it is celebrated on October 1, every year to commemorate the founding of People’s Republic of China. On that day, lots of large-scale activities are held nationwide. Besides, the seven-day holiday from Oct. 1 to 7 is the so-called “Golden Week”, during which more and more Chinese people go travelling around the country.
One thing to note is that the PRC was not founded on that day, but on September 21, 1949. The grand ceremony held at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949 was to celebrate the forming of the Central People’s Government of the brand new country. Later on October 2, 1949, the new government passed the ‘Resolution on the National Day of the People’s Republic of China’ and declared October 1 to be the National Day. Ever since 1950, every October 1 has been grandly celebrated by the Chinese people.
CUSTOMS
Altogether 14 military reviews have been held on October 1, since 1949. The most representative and influential ones include the military reviews on the founding ceremony, the fifth anniversary, 1tenth anniversary, 35th anniversary, 50th anniversary and 60th anniversary. There are also huge parades by common people to express their patriotic feelings.
Compiled by Gilbert Kidimu
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China offers scholarships to Ugandans
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The Government of China provides full and partial scholarship to international students
Education is one of the most important things in life, because without it, you cannot contribute to the world or earn money, and knowledge will always elude you. That is why Uganda today, more than ever, needs an educated and well skilled population more than anything else. In order to strengthen capacitybuilding of Uganda, the Chinese Government is this year offering 40 scholarships for talented Ugandan students to pursue education in China.
“The Chinese government offered over 40 scholarships for young Ugandan talents and 404 slots of training courses for Ugandan government officials in various sectors,” stated Chinese ambassador, Zhao Yali. He made the pledge at a media reception held at the Chinese Embassy in Kampala The envoy hailed ties between Uganda and China, noting that close co-operation between the two countries was growing stronger Last year, China offered around 280 different training opportunioties for Uganda officials and university scholarships for Ugandan students.
Under the framework South- South Co-operation Programme, 22 agricultural experts from China came to Uganda and brought advanced technologies and skills to promote agricultural development in Uganda. In addition, two Chinese cultural delegations visited Uganda. They put on several splendid performances for over 200 Ugandans and also donated over 100 books and DVDs to the Uganda National Library.
China will also make efforts in implementing the African talent Programme in the next three years. This will train 30,000 personnel in various sectors and offer 18,000 scholarships to African students. Frank Ssebowa, the executive director, Uganda Investments Authority, says the Chinese do a lot of capacity building, where Ugandans are taken for training in China. Other Ugandans trained from Uganda in a number of fields where the Chinese are authorities.
Makerere University too, made calls for applications for Chinese Government Scholarships. The degree-oriented programme in Provinces and Autonomous Regions, is established by the Ministry of Education China. It aims to strengthen the education exchanges and co-operation between China and its neighbouring countries. The education authorities in the provinces and autonomous regions under this programme lead the local institutions to carry out the recruitment. China Scholarship Council, entrusted by the MOE, holds the responsibility of the verification, approval and the routine management of the programme.
The instruction language could be either Chinese or English. Applicants, who apply for courses instructed in Chinese, are required to take one-year Chinese language course prior to the academic study if their Chinese is not qualified. Only by passing the examinations after the Chinese language course, could they start their academic studies. The Chinese Government Scholarship scheme is established to provide full scholarship and partial scholarship to international students.
At the moment, every year, China offers Ugandan students scholarships at all levels (graduate and post -graduate levels) 35 students per year. There is an existing exchange programme for human resource training. Every year, more than 300 Ugandans of various disciplines come to China for various courses ranging from six months to one year. There is a lot of c-operation at the political level, in terms of training. There are vast opportunities and there are times when there is a need for specialised skills obtainable in China and a request is made by the Ugandan government to the China government and the embassy follows up the matter.
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Chinese companies employ over 30,000 Ugandans
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The twin towers that house the Office of the President and the Prime minister was built with assistance from the Chinese government
By Gilbert Kidimu
Their language might appear difficult to learn but China’s investment prowess stretches to the ends of the earth.
Over 33, 000 Ugandans, the same number as the crowd filling Namboole Stadium during a major game, are employed by Chinese companies in Uganda. According to the statistics of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) this is since 1993 to 2012. The influx of Chinese firms over the years has led to increased rapid economic and trade growth with Chinese investment to Uganda totalling over $590m.
The total amount invested in bilateral trade alone is worth $400m and the planned investments are over $230m. This is attributed to the increase in the number of Chinese investors in the country, the good trade and economic environment in the country. The boost brought in by Chinese in the areas of trade such as construction, civil works, fibre optics, and a road construction has fostered economic growth. UIA Executive Director Frank Ssebowa says Chinese Investments in Uganda have taken an upward swing.
“The Chinese invest generously in viable projects and work quickly,” he says. He explains that they get on ground fully determined to make things happen. “As soon as a project is licenced, it barely takes a while before it takes off.” The Chinese clearly have a lot of money compared to potential investors from elsewhere. This is partly because they are backed by their government to do business overseas. UIA’s Investment Executive (Research) Rebecca Nalumu reveals that China was the number one Foreign Direct Investment Investor in 2012/13.
“The intended investments that year were valued at $359m, and we were able to get investments of about three companies licensed. The investment value was $13m,” she says. UIA has in the past year received 69 registered Chinese companies, a staggering number only second to India. According to Nalumu, the most popular sectors among investors are manufacturing, electricity, gas, water, construction, mining and quarrying. “Previously, they were interested in construction and manufacturing but they are starting to get into mining as well
