Windhoek
Japanese Ambassador to Namibia Hideyuki Sakamoto said he is looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations with Namibia, especially in areas of agricultural development and availing volunteers.
Sakamoto said his nation has dispatched experts and young volunteers to the north in areas of education, health and civil engineering, among others. He mentioned this during a visit to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila yesterday morning.
Sakamoto said they have several ongoing projects in the country, for example the logistics hub in Walvis Bay which is important for regional integration.
Japanese experts last year submitted a master plan that has been accepted and adopted by the Namibian Government and that is now at the stage of implementation.
“We are also covering agriculture in the north which is one of the projects in the master plan. It is quite important in terms of food security and it is better to support small farmers.”
Another project they are embarking on in the north is with the University of Namibia (Unam) to develop crops and rice that are resistant not only to drought but floods as well.
Sakamoto also stated they are providing grant assistance for school buildings in the north and so far more than 40 school buildings have been completed through their assistance.
According to Sakamoto the two countries have traditional relations especially in fisheries, and Japan is importing crayfish from Lüderitz.
“I am looking forward to attend the crayfish festival in Lüderitz next year. The crayfish and tuna have a good market. The fish are of high quality. We want to expand minerals and private sector cooperation as well,” he said, adding that the Namibian industrialisation, trade and SME development minister together with Namibian business persons visited Japan to explore bilateral partnerships.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila told Sakamoto that Japan’s plan to have a representative office in Namibia would enhance development cooperation.
She said the office would support investors from Japan and Namibia.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said she is happy that Japan is willing to share with Namibia its knowledge in areas of technology.
“You have already indicated some areas we are cooperating in including coming up with flood-resistant food products. We are a disaster-prone country and it is important to look at ways of improving the resilience of our economy to this disaster, and drought-resistant food crops will be one very good way,” she added.