Nigerian-born
Collins Nweke, was yesterday in London sworn in as Councillor of West- Flanders
Constituency in Belgium, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
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, migrated to Belgium in 1993. He is currently
the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora (NIDO), Europe.
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Politics