By Moshi Israel
The China Communications Construction Company officially launched its 2023-24 ESG report on October 17th 2024 at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi. The event was graced by a number of key guests from the corporate world and Governments of both countries. China at the highest level was represented by his Excellency Ambassador Zhang Li Zhong while Uganda was adequately represented by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Matia Kasaija, the Hon. Mwebesa Francis, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and the chief guest; Vice President of Uganda her Excellency Jessica Alupo represented by the Hon. Lukia Isanga Nakadama the third Prime Minister and Minister without portfolio of the Government of Uganda.
The report comes at the heel of increased cooperation between Uganda and China that has seen the latter become one of the biggest investors in Uganda’s economic development. Just recently the IMF acknowledged that Uganda’s economy will continue to grow at a high rate and in double digits. This success can be acknowledged by many Ugandans to be in no small part a spillover effect from the numerous investments from China. The CCCC is one of many such companies that have contributed to Uganda’s continued economic success.
In a more specific way, CCCC has its name chiseled in many iconic infrastructure projects in Uganda including the Express high way and its breathtaking Nambigirwa bridge, The Entebbe International Airport, The KBE project in Kampala and many other road networks around the country.
The ESG report is perhaps one of the most important yardsticks to measure a company’s true success. This is because this is where the ethics and moral standing of a company are truly weighed beyond the profit making. CCCC has effectively incorporated Environmental stewardship, Social Responsibility and Governance and ethics at the center of their operations culture. ESG ensures that a company’s activities go beyond profit making and support sustainable development that does not come at the expense of the environment and human rights.
CCCC Uganda currently has 26 ongoing and planned projects valued at $1.7billion. The company operates across numerous sectors and is involved in the construction of highways, bridges, Airports, water supply and factory construction. It has led other companies for four years straight in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Uganda. The company is engaged in charitable activities including contributions to SOS orphanages. Additionally, CCCC Uganda has also played a major role in the advancement of Uganda’s education sector where they have signed an MOU with Makerere University and Wuhan City Polytechnic aimed at creating a model school-enterprise cooperation. They also launched the seagull Talent Training project to cultivate ‘internationally minded professionals with specialised skills for Uganda’s future.’
To put the achievements of CCCC Uganda into perspective, one has to point out that the company has completed 16 projects, has accumulated 1000km in construction mileage, has led to an 80%+ portion of Ugandan employees participating in construction whilst creating over 10k jobs. Much has to be done but CCCC is actively on the right track and serves as an example of investment gone right. For many years, developing countries have been faced with a problem of ‘unserious’ investors who are mostly crooks looking for a quick buck. However, the tide is ever so slowly changing and the government is increasingly looking in the right places to find genuine investors with a proper international standing.
Furthermore, what CCCC is doing also reflects well on China as a country and is in line with the 10 Action points emphasized by President Xi Jinping during the Beijing Summit and Ninth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in September. Some of President Xi’s points of emphasis were on Green Development and connectivity. CCCC is actively contributing to these action plans by engaging in construction that is friendly to the environment and building extensive road networks under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Going forward, the Government of Uganda should continue to develop a strategy that increases the trust of international investors in the profitability, stability, security and sustainability of doing business in Uganda. Once the message is out there that Uganda is safe and open for business, more companies like CCCC from all over the world will continue flocking into the country and contributing significantly to its economic growth. Just like CCCC has been a good representative for China, Ugandan citizens and Businesses can be great ambassadors for the country everywhere they go. The ESG report has shown us how much of an impact a foreign company has had on the economic and social progress of our country and now the ball is in our hands.
The Writer is a Senior Research Fellow at Development Watch Center.