Goge Africa management team led by its Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Isaac Moses and Managing Director, Ambassador Nneka Isaac – Moses, visited Tanzania and Burundi, two East Africa countries, seeking to explore intra – connectivity in Africa in areas of trade, investment and tourism.
According to the team from the multiple- award-winning
culture and tourism promotion outfit in Africa, the visit was an insightful one
and a learning curve for them in their new quest in identifying barriers to
intra – African trade and working towards eliminating these barriers so as to
promote seamless connectivity.
To the team, it is only when genuine efforts are made
towards removing these challenges that the question of; Why don’t most African
countries trade with each other?, can be truly addressed, otherwise Africans
will continue to look up to Asia, Europe, America and others for trade and
investment.
Africans, they say, should invest in Africa, insisting that:
‘‘Our political and economic leaders must stop moving the wealth of Africa
outside the continent if they want the progress of Africa.’’ The first country
visited by the team was Tanzania, where the Tanzanian Ambassador to Nigeria,
Dr. Alfred Bana, facilitated a meeting between the trio of Goge Africa, Tanzania
Tourist Board and Zanzibar Commission for Tourism.
Goge team were received at Tanzania Tourist Board office in
Dar Es Salam by the Director of Marketing, Dr. Gladstone Mlay, who after the
fruitful discussion agreed that concerted efforts must be made to promote
African tourism and investment opportunities especially within the continent.
Thereafter, the team also met with Dr. Mohamed Mkurugenzi Masoko, who had to
sail from Zanzibar to Tanzania, to meet with the team at Kigamboni area of
Gezaulole at Bamba Beach, a privately owned resort on the peninsula.
At the end of the meeting, Goge Africa team went on a guided
tour of the facility. Relieving his experience, Isaac Moses said: ‘‘Bamba beach
is a very beautiful eco-friendly resort with huge potential for investors in
tourism sector. It has a nice curvy lake amidst the green vegetation that runs
slowly into the ocean.”
The next country of visit was Burundi on the invitation of
the Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi, Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba. The team visited
the Mayor of Bujumbura, CP. Jimmy Hatungimana, where they were warmly received
and hosted to traditional African hospitality.
The team later held a meeting with the Ministry of Sports,
Culture and Heritage. In attendance were the Assistant to the Minister: Mr Jean
Claude Kanene, DG Sports and Culture: Mr Samuel Niyubahwe, and Director of
Sports: Mr Laurent Nzeyimana. During the weekend, the team in company of Her
Excellency Mrs. Udo Onyeagba and others, toured the boarder of Burundi and
Congo Democratic Republic, as well as Parc National De La Rusizi.
“It was a magical journey of discovery,’’ revealed Nneka
Isaac – Moses, adding that: ‘‘From the quiet waters of brown co-loured Rusizi,
we watched a pod of hippopotamuses, different species of birds that fluttered
away as we clapped from our boat.
Within minutes we were at the magical but natural divide
where brown coloured Rusizi meets with blue Lake Tanganyika! ‘‘Such awesome
wonder!” The boat cruise experience was capped with a cultural feast served by
Burundians as the team was treated to a sample of the internationally acclaimed
drum ensemble and dance of Burundi. According to the CEO of Goge Africa;
‘‘These and more are information you may not readily get online. Burundi is not
a poor country.
They have food sufficiency with one of the most fertile land
in the whole of Africa. Lake Tanganyika is a fresh water lake and home to over
200 species of fish.” While Nneka Isaac – Moses, also gave a good impression of
the country, as she said: ‘‘I recommend Mukeke and Sangala fish prepared in the
Burundian style to anyone visiting Burundi.
‘‘Their avocadoes pears are very fleshy and big as a baby’s
head. Burundi is not just food sufficient but, Rwanda, Congo and other
neighboring countries depend on them for food. Investment here in Agriculture
will yield fast return on investment’’ Besides, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burundi
Onyeagba, also engaged Nigerian Diaspora community on the opportunities
available in Burundi.
While Goge Africa team caught up with Pinnacle International
Investment Club, who were also in Bujumbura on the invitation of Nigeria’s
envoy to explore opportunities for investment. Goge Africa team was hosted at
Kiriri Garden Hotel, Hotel Club Du Lac Tanganyika and Olivia Hotel owned by a
Nigerian during the visit.
Meanwhile, the newly birthed Goge Africa and Partners
Network plan to embark on Destination East Africa as part of it ongoing
Destination West Africa Project, a project aimed at the promotion and advocacy
for inter-connectivity and intra-Africa travel, trade and investment.