By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK– Minister of Foreign Affairs Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi last week signed four memoranda of understanding to further cement the existing bilateral ties between the two states.
Nandi-Ndaitwah and her counterpart signed the agreements during the 7th Session of the Zimbabwe-Namibia Joint Commission of Cooperation that took place in Zimbabwe last week.
The memoranda are in the field of meteorology, cooperation in youth affairs, agriculture and tourism.
“The ministers reiterated their commitment to improving and strengthening both political and economic relations by intensifying cooperation between the business communities of the two countries with a view to increasing trade and investment,” reads the communique issued jointly by the two ministers.
During the discussions, the two delegations expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral cooperation but saw the need to further encourage people-to-people contacts through cultural, sport, scientific and educational exchange programmes and tourism.
In this regard, the two ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Joint Commission of Cooperation in coordinating bilateral cooperation and partnerships.
“Both delegations noted, with appreciation, the expansive nature of the bilateral cooperation which include trade and investment, agriculture, telecommunications, mining, energy, infrastructural development, tourism, immigration, education, politics, defence and security, transport and environment,” reads the joint statement.
New areas of cooperation relate to legal affairs, including the sharing of best practices with regard to the provision of legal aid, setting up of institutions to enforce intellectual property rights, while mutual assistance in civil matters also featured during the high-profile meeting.
“The parties agreed to expand existing cooperation in the areas of agriculture, mining, health, education, tourism as well as sport, arts and culture.”
The two ministers committed to improve and strengthen political and economic relations by intensifying cooperation between the business communities of the two countries with a view to increase trade and investment.
“Both delegations further agreed to encourage people-to-people contacts through cultural, sport, scientific and educational exchange programmes and tourism.”