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Namibia: SA Consolidate Ties
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New Era (Windhoek)
6 August 2008
Posted to the web 6 August 2008
Petronella Sibeene
Windhoek
Namibia and South Africa yesterday held their seventh bilateral meeting that covered various sectors that would enhance economic development between the two countries.
South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived in the country yesterday morning and held talks with his Namibian counterpart President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
In a closed meeting, the two Heads of States tackled issues in agriculture, environment and tourism, energy, science and technology, transport, fisheries and marine resources and health.
Minister of Trade, Dr Hage Geingob, during a media briefing at State House yesterday said the meeting between the two presidents reviewed special development issues such as the progress, obstacles and way forward on the Namibia International Investment Conference.
The two countries last year in October initiated the Namibia International Investment Conference that served as a platform to promote investment in Namibia.
Geingob, even though he did not elaborate, said the ministries involved in this particular project reported that progress has been made in this project that had at its birth, predictions that the cooperation would result in the investment of N$2 billion into the economy.
The South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, said because of the success of the investment conference, South Africa decided to continue engaging Namibia in developmental issues.
While the area of transport remains critical in development, Mpahlwa singled out the development of the Trans-Kunene corridor that will link Walvis Bay to Lubango in Angola.
"South Africa commits to support the initiative and very soon we will see the signing of the memorandum of understanding in transport and agriculture," he added.
In the area of agriculture, the two countries shared ideas on the protection of the karakul industry.
With energy issues still a concern between the two countries and the region at large, Geingob said Kudu Gas Project took centre stage during the talks with no clear indication as to what is happening with the project.
Geingob said Eskom earlier indicated it would withdraw from the project but recently showed signs of recommitment.
Mpahlwa said his government would engage Eskom to establish its stance on the project.
He acknowledged that Eskom seemed to have problems with this particular project but assured that government remained interested in the realisation of the giant and yet long-standing Kudu project.
Another project in the energy sector discussed was the Orange River hydro project. According to Mpahlwa, the two parties agreed that border issues should not hinder opportunities for hydropower generation between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the opportunities for investment in uranium mining in the region prompted both trade ministers to reveal that the two countries were yet to come up with policies that will guide them in the entire management of this powerful resource.
In tourism, Mpahlwa said the opening of the Mata Mata Tourist Access facility - a port of entry between Namibia and South Africa - has boosted cross-border tourism between the countries involved.
Namibia and South Africa discussed how Namibian tour operators could cross to South Africa with their tourists as South Africans do with Namibia.
President Pohamba also discussed with Mbeki, the spatial development initiatives, the departure of the South African Bureau of Standards and the establishment of the Namibia Standards Institution.
Multilateral Trading Agreements such as SACU, SADC FTA, SADC Economic Partnership Agreements and World Trade Organisations were also discussed.
Mpahlwa said both countries are concerned about Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and their impact on regional integration.
EPAs are trade agreements that the EU wants to sign with the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
According to the EU, the deals are designed to assist in the integration of ACP countries into the world economy while promoting their sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication
Many ACP countries were not in a position to finalise the negotiation process by the end of last year to bring the new EU-ACP trade regime into conformity with the rules of the World Trade Organisation.
The objectives of the EPAs, said representatives of the European Commission, are to bring about the smooth and gradual integration of ACP countries into the global economy and support regional integration pro-cesses in these regions.
"We will continue to raise the impact of EPAs on regional integration. We are concerned on whether we will have sufficient policy space to pursue our own development. We do believe we are succeeding in making our voices heard," said Mpahlwa.
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President Mbeki concluded his one-day visit by inaugurating the cardiac unit at the Windhoek Central Hospital yesterday.
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