By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Despite the huge trade potential that exists between Namibia and Zambia, cross-border trade remains under-exploited, said Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa on Friday after his four-day State visit to Namibia.
Mwanawasa expressed this concern when he officially opened the Buyer-Seller Zambia Trade Day in Windhoek last Friday. He concluded his visit on Saturday.
Last year, Namibia’s exports to Zambia totalled US$6.86 million while Zambia’s exports to Namibia were valued at US$9.58 million.
These figures, Mwanawasa believes, could be increased further by diversifying the product range that the two countries trade in.
Based on the market survey, potential Zambian products that can be exported to Namibia include refined sugar, chitenge material, canned vegetables, fruit, maize and other cereals, seeds, cassava, molasses, vegetables, cotton, maheu drinks and UTH milk.
Products exhibited last Friday included stockfeed, rice, beans, dried fruits and vegetables, wooded crafts and pharmaceuticals.
Already, the completion of the Katima Mulilo bridge has led to a significant increase in commercial and general traffic, stimulating economic activity along the Trans-Caprivi highway.With the effective promotion of the land route and expansion and development of the Walvis Bay port, the Zambian president says cross-border trade should be stimulated.
He urged the joint Namibia-Zambia Committee on Trade and Investments to meet and complete the bilateral agreement in order to enhance and uplift the living standards of the people through increased business activities.
Mwanawasa applauded organisers of the mini-exhibition where 25 Zambian companies were represented. They showcased some of the products their country can offer to the Namibian people.
Director of African Joy Limited, Joyce Mibenge, specialising in home furnishings, parched quilts and curios, regarded this paltform as important as it allowed her to interact with Namibian businesses with the same business interest.
She added though that Zambian and Namibian busineses can interact with each other and share ideas on how they can improve their products and secure markets in the two countries.
Also, Sylvia Banda, the Managing Director of Sylva Food Solutions, shared the same sentimenst as Mibenge but added that such intiatives should be encouraged especially among women who still form a large part of the unemployed in society.
Specialising in drying Zambian foodstuffs such as fish, vegetables and fruits, Banda says Namibia as a dry country needs to be exposed to vegetable eating. “We are Africans and our foods are more or less the same. We can share the food we eat as well,” she added.
Banda described the interest from the Namibian side as high. She belives such a platform demonstrates the growing interest in trade between the two countries.
From the agriculture sector, Kamano SCompany showcased their early maturing maize, millet and groundnut seeds.
“We specilise more in legumes and we look forward to meeting with potential buyers. Already, we have had contacts with FAO but we need to expand our market. We are prepared to work with the Namibian people,” said the marketing director Sylvia Horemans.
According to Mwanawasa, the Zambian government is determined to work together with Namibia to enhance trade and investment relations. He urged the captains of business in Namibia and Zambia to use the Zambian Trade Day platform to network and develop strong business links.
The President further appealed to the Namibian/Zambian team of experts engaged in joint agricultural project planned for Sesheke to ensure that the project becomes a reality.
Substantial progress has been made with the completion of soil surveys, environmental impact assessments and farm planning.
“This is a priority project. When complete, it is expected that the selected crops that will be grown would improve the food security situation in our two countries,” he said.
Mwanawasa reiterated the need to revive the idea of establishing a cartel of copper producing countries in Southern Africa that includes Zambia, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He says such an arrangement will not only help to strengthen the economic ties amongst the copper producing countries but also strengthen their advocacy for fair international copper prices.
“We must put an end to the situation where copper prices are influenced and determined by non-producers,” he said.