IT WAS during May 2013 that I was sitting in my office in the newly renovated Marischal College as director of enterprise, planning and infrastructure for the city when I took a call from former Labour MP Frank Doran.
He wanted me to speak to the Mozambique High Commission, who wanted to know more about how Aberdeen had developed into a world energy hub from being a small fishing village!
Two months later, I was receiving the former president and five of his ministers for a week-long stay in Aberdeen that included a series of seminars and visits.
President Guebuza left proclaiming that he wanted Pemba - the Mozambique city closest to the 300trillion cubic feet (Tcf) mega gas find in the Offshore Rovuma Basin - to follow the "Aberdeen model".
I was soon to find out a good deal more about this long, narrow East African country with its wonderfully friendly people.
One of the poorest countries in the world, it was nevertheless growing economically.
After several further visits to Aberdeen by various ministers, including agriculture, education and fisheries, a trade mission including the Governor of Cabo Delgado and the Mayor of Pemba visited Aberdeen to ask for help to prepare their province and city to benefit as much as possible from the development of its world class gas reserves.
A memorandum of understanding was sought and Carlos dos Santos, the High Commissioner mentioned above, asked if I could work full time for them in Mozambique.
A compromise was reached courtesy of the UK Government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office which has seen me spending much of the past year in southern and eastern Africa, mainly in Mozambique but also looking at how to assist both local and national governments in Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa.
Over the course of this period, I have spoken at four conferences and attended countless meetings as well as producing a blueprint for the development of Pemba and Cabo Delgado which I have now started to put in place with the assistance of Adam Smith International.
In the process, I have made contact with most organisations with an interest in that part of the world and gained knowledge that I’d like to share with you.
So come and hear a bit more about it all on November 8 at the Chamber's Exploring East Africa event.
On Sunday, November 14, I head back to Pemba to help launch their investment promotion strategy.
Do you need to be looking at Pemba – East Africa’s Energy Hub?
- Gordon is speaking at the Exploring East Africa event, along with Richard Benyon, member of Parliament for Newbury and Trade Envoy for Mozambique, and Ian Ross, senior international business executive, Scottish Development International.