By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK – UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) rail specialist, Jake Rudham, was on a two-day visit to Namibia that was intended to gain a better understanding of the country’s rail plans and needs.
The visit started on Monday and ended yesterday.
UKTI is the UK’s trade promotion body.
Rudham’s visit follows the success of a fact-finding mission by a British business delegation to Namibia, which took place last year in September.
The visit will help provide UK companies with updates on opportunities in the Namibian rail sector and help to determine what British expertise is needed.
Rudham’s visit is in response to the Namibian Government’s request for greater commercial engagement by British companies in the Namibian private and public sectors.
Rudham met with the Minister of Works and Transport, the Permanent Secretary of the National Planning Commission (NPC), as well as representatives of TransNamib, the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Namport and British Business Group member Ernst and Young.
After the visit, Rudham concluded: “I had a number of very productive meetings and it’s clear that there are some great opportunities for UK companies in Namibia. I believe UK companies have got the right skills and experience to help Namibia develop its infrastructure projects. We look forward to further engagement and developing these opportunities.”
It is envisaged there will be more UK companies engaging with TransNamib on projects such as the Trans-Kalahari Railway.
To highlight the continued investment by the British Government in a range of projects to support the shared aims of the UK and Namibia, the British High Commission, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Calle Schlettwein, launched the Easing the Way for Investment in Namibia report that identifies obstacles to foreign investment in Namibia and recommends reforms and improvements aimed at removing them.