Nigerian-born Collins Nweke, was on Friday sworn in as
Councillor of West- Flanders Constituency in Belgium.
Nweke, a member of the Belgian Green Party, was re-elected
last year having made history in 2006 when he became the first non-Belgian born
politician to win an elective position in West-Flanders.
With his re-election, Nweke’s mandate includes issues
bordering on the economy, social policy, international development and minority
priority.
“The last several years were a learning curve where some
important results were equally achieved.
“ I will continue to have my eyes on the ball as far as social
policy is concerned, but with an expanded portfolio that includes the economy
and international development.
“Small and medium enterprises are the engine of the local
economy and a business-friendly environment will not only keep existing
businesses in good shape but will attract new investments and create jobs.
“A number of good initiatives are ongoing and obviously
these would be continued and enhanced. “It will also make sense to re-evaluate
some economic activities that are liabilities to the local economy,” He told
NAN’s Western Europe Correspondent.
Nweke, who spoke on international development, said the
challenges of global meltdown were insurmountable. “I think that the
relationship between the western economies and the emerging ones has for too
long being based on the wrong premise. He said that partnership, rather than
charity, should be the bedspring on which the larger part of the relationship
rests.
“The economies of the west are showing signs of saturation,
while there are huge developmental potential in the emerging economies. So
let’s build a relationship of mutual benefits.” Nweke, 46, years,from Ibusa in
Delta state, migrated to Belgium in 1993; he is currently the Chairman of
Nigerians in Diaspora in Europe.
Source; Pm News
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