WINDHOEK – President Hifikepunye Pohamba and his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall have stressed the need to promote economic and commercial cooperation and encouraged the two countries’ private sectors to strengthen ties.
Pohamba recently visited Senegal at the invitation of his counterpart. During the signing of bilateral agreements which constitute the legal framework for cooperation between Senegal and Namibia in the areas of trade, culture, science and technology, tourism and the hospitality industry, health and diplomacy, the two leaders instructed their ministers in charge of these sectors to expeditiously implement the agreements. Pohamba was the guest of honour at the celebration of the 54th anniversary of Senegal’s independence on April 4, 2014. President Sall conferred on Pohamba the Grand Cross of the national Order of the Lion during the occasion. The two leaders also agreed cooperation between the two countries should be explored in fisheries and marine resources, environment and parks management, mining, agriculture and land management.
Citing the vast experience of the Dakar Port Authority, and the ongoing expansion of the Port of Walvis Bay, the leaders further directed the two port authorities to explore cooperation. On the continental level, the two leaders reiterated their commitment to the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), in line with the African Union (AU) Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which will serve as a basis for discussions during the NEPAD Financing Summit for Africa’s Infrastructure to which public and private development partners are invited. The Senegalese leader also informed Pohamba of his actions in his capacity as chairperson of NEPAD’s Orientation Committee and recalled resource mobilisation efforts made for financing PIDA projects, especially the NEPAD financing summit to be held during June 14-15, 2014 in Dakar. President Pohamba commended his counterpart for his leadership as the head of NEPAD and his efforts for the interconnection of African states through infrastructure development, which is key to boosting intra-African trade and strengthening regional integration. Addressing peace and security issues, the two leaders expressed deep concern over the resurgence of crises and conflicts in some areas of the continent, as well as the escalation of terrorism in the Sahel-Saharan region, as well as other parts of Africa. They called for peace, solidarity and social cohesion on the continent.
At the international level, the two leaders reaffirmed the need for improved world governance and reiterated their commitment to reinforce the role and place of the African continent in international fora. The two also called for the reform of the UN Security Council in order to make it representative and democratic. Sall informed Pohamba about the preparations for the 15th Francophonie Summit scheduled for November 29-30, 2014, in Dakar under the theme ‘Femmes et Jeunes en Francophonie, Vecteurs de paix et acteurs de development’ (Women and Youth in Francophonie: Bringers of Peace and Drivers of Development). In order to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, Pohamba informed Sall a Namibian diplomatic mission will open in Dakar during this year. The two heads of state also gave directives to their respective ministers of foreign affairs to start preparations for the holding of the inaugural Session of the Joint Commission on Cooperation to be held during the second half of 2015 in Dakar, Senegal.
Staff Reporter