Nam secures Zim horticulture, beef deals

By Hilary Mare
THE Namibian government has struck deals to import horticulture products from Zim­babwe, and export beef to the neighbouring country.
The agreements, signed at the 8th Namibia-Zim­babwe Joint Permanent Commission last week are aimed at improving the lives of ordinary Namibians and Zimbabweans.
Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Permanent Secre­tary, Ambassador Joey Bimha, also highlighted that the two countries would send missions to each oth­er, to inspect the facilities relating to these agree­ments.
“Under the economic cluster, we focused on the boosting of trade, concerning the exportation of fresh food and vegetables by Zimbabwe to Namib­ia. Namibia will send a delegation to Zimbabwe to inspect the areas for these exports.
“Similarly, in this area of agriculture, Zimbabwe is expected to dispatch a veterinary delegation to Namibia by 30 June, to inspect Namibian facilities from which Namibia plans to process beef exports to Zimbabwe,” Bimha said in a statement.
Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interna­tional Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ne­tumbo Nandi–Ndaitwah, stressed the need to implement all the agreements signed by the two countries.
“We want to ensure that all decisions agreed on will be efficiently and effectively implemented, within the timeframe agreed upon,” she said.
Bimha also encouraged the customs authorities of the two countries to conclude the negotiations and agreements, aimed at the implementation of a preferential trade agreement.
In the mining sector, the two countries are ex­pected to conclude a memorandum of understand­ing on geology, mining and metallurgy by April 2018.
Concerning the training of Namibians at the Zimbabwe School of Mines, the Land of the Brave will undertake a market assessment, to determine the skills gaps in the mining industry, before re­suming the programme.
While Namibia’s total trade in 2016 stood at US$13 billion, its trade with Zimbabwe was valued at a mere US$24 million.
President Hage Geingob decried the low trade levels between the two countries, during his State visit last week to Zimbabwe, and called for a redou­bling of efforts to boost bilateral trade.
Geingob added that trade was not only low be­tween the two countries, but also across Africa, be­cause the continent mainly produces and exports unprocessed goods.
He called on African countries to create linkages that accelerate industrialisation on the continent.
Geingob also called for the removal of barriers to trade, as well as barriers that hinder the free move­ment of labour.
He also called for the creation of strong region­al value chains, to enable the continent to compete globally.
“To address burning challenges, such as high un­employment in Africa, we have to expand our in­dustrialisation and value chain capabilities,” Gein­gob added.