Zoomlion Commended At 7th World Urban Forum

Zoomlion Ghana, the leading waste and sanitation Management Company in Ghana is commended at the just ended United Nations (UN) Habitat 7TH World Urban Forum (WUF7) in Medellin, Columbia. The company which over five years� experience in waste management and has branches in Africa, and has won several international awards for its dedication to waste and sanitation management in Ghana and Africa. The company was the only waste and sanitation management organization as part of the Ghana�s delegation to the WUF7 which was to discussed issues on urban development. Zoomlion�s presence in the Ghana booth at the exhibition center offered a great opportunity to showcase its works, achievements and contributions to Ghana�s urban development processes. The WUF7 was under the theme �Urban Equity in Development � Cities for Life, � will focuses on seeking ways to strengthen and develop institutional framework for sustainable urban development and housing. It will also look at progress in understanding the role of local governments in drafting proposals and policies for urban development. WUF7 serves as a platform to determine the guidelines for Habitat III, the Third United Nations Conference on Housing, and Sustainable Urban Development, schedule for 2016 which will focus on Climate Change, Protection and Public Safety. Showcasing its products and services in brochures, banners, and other souvenirs the company became the attraction of the event as country representatives, individuals, companies and non-governmental organizations and both local and international media constantly trooped to the Ghana booth to interact with the company representatives. Interview with Ghana News Agency, Dr. Offei Bob Manteaw, Director of Research, Innovation and Development said Zoomlion has made Ghana proud at the event as it showcased and discussed its innovative programs such as Afforestation, Street Cleaning, Ecobrigade, Zoil and the provision of free waste bins to communities and households. He said the products and services showcase attracted international interest which Mr Matin Barugahare, Chief Evaluation Officer of UN-Habitat was particularly pleased and commended Zoomlion and Ghana for the introduction of such innovation in waste and sanitation management. Dr Manteaw noted the parapheneilia of Zoomlion was being carried around the City of Medellin in the week-long event by locals and foreigners which were pleasing to see such a befitting representation of Ghana as a country at such a huge global event. He said Zoomlion most significant contribution was its boldness in drawing the attention of the organizers of the event to the fact that sanitation and waste management was left out in the broader discussions of urbanization and urban development. Dr Manteaw said there was missing gap in the WUF7 which most part of the forums focuses entirely on urban development from a housing equity perspective and that such premise, was wrong as it failed to take into account the consequences of urban development. According to him Zoomlion and the Africa Institute of Sanitation and Waste Management (AISWAM), Zoomlion reminded the world that urban development policies should begin with thoughts about how to deal with urban waste and sanitation. He said the idea was well-received by participants who admitted that waste and sanitation issues were short on the event agenda. Dr Manteaw said the company�s is standing as a contemporary international organization with foresight and vision and with the capability to influence contemporary thinking and practice in waste and sanitation management in all sectors. He said organizers of the forum saw as an act of omission and saw Zoomlion opportunity as progressive and forward-looking company. Mr. Robert Tetteh Colemen, the Communication Manager of Zoomlion and a member of the Zoomlion delegation said as an indigenous Ghanaian company, Zoomlion is committed to the work it does and that the company constantly aspires to be the foremost champion of a cleaner, greener and healthy environment all across Africa. He expressed Zoomlion�s appreciation of the commendations and recognitions received on such a global stage, adding that, the organization is humbled by receiving such applauses and commendations as a challenge to do even better in putting in place more innovative strategies to manage Africa�s waste. Mr Coleman at the Ghana�s Side Event which was under the theme �Ghana Rising: leveraging, Urbanization, Inclusive and Equitable Development�, Zoomlion represented the Private Sector interest and Dr. Bob Manteaw, who was a panel member educated participants on the works of zoomlion which looks beyond profits. He said waste and sanitation management, expounded on the works of Zoomlion as more of a social investment that puts public health, social welfare and the efficient management of the natural environment before profits. Mr Coleman said Dr. Manteaw also talked about the newly created Africa AISWAM, which is the first of its kind in Ghana with state-of-the-art facilities that was launched to address issues of skill development and gaps in waste and sanitation management in Ghana. He said the institute is a non-profit establishment and a social investment that will serve the Interest of Africa in many meaningful ways which will also be emerged as Zoomlion long lasting legacy to Ghana and Africa. Mr Coleman said the AISWAM attracted a great deal of interest at the WUF7 as many individuals and organizations stopped by the Ghana Booth to know more about existing opportunities and future possibilities for collaboration. He said Zoomlion made Ghana and Ghanaians proud, �the achievements of a home-grown organization has gained such credibility on the international stage needs to be made that Zoomlion is not just a private company it is a people�s company, a social investment and an indigenous African company with its roots in Ghana.�