Edgar Brandt

Namibia must accelerate intra Africa trade to begin fully realising the tangible benefits of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and to promote industrialisation on the continent. 

More specifically, Namibia’s trade volumes with Africa’s most populace nation, Nigeria, need to be improved, with Namibia’s high commissioner to that country saying opportunities do exist to make this a reality. 

High Commissioner Humphrey !Geiseb yesterday told New Era Namibia is well represented at the numerous Nigerian trade exhibitions, and that more trade between the two countries will be promoted at an upcoming meeting in Windhoek. 

This will be at the Namibia-Nigeria Joint Commission, scheduled for Windhoek in August, where officials are expected to elaborate on mutually beneficial projects for the two countries. 

“The trade balance is currently in Namibia’s favour. In 2020, Nigeria exported US$8.72 million to Namibia, while Namibia exported US$16.7 million to Nigeria. Our exports to Nigeria are largely salt and electronics,” said !Geiseb. 

He explained electronic exports comprise satellite radios from Satcom. 

“We participate in trade industry exhibitions and shows where our funds and programs allow participation. Nigeria has a population of over 200 million people and 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Our funds do not allow the mission to attend each and every trade event but we make strategic selections,” the high commissioner stated. 

In terms of trade prospects, !Geiseb is adamant that opportunities lie in a number of quality Namibian products such as beef and lamb, dates, grapes and wine, fish as well as value-added products. 

To further endorse Namibian and Nigerian partnerships, the high commission appointed an honorary consul in Nigeria. 

Barrister Anosike Chuma has been the honorary consul of Namibia to Lagos and the southwestern and southeastern states since 2014. 

Said !Geiseb: “He is very active, and he also supports the promotional work of the high commission of Namibia. He frequently visits Namibia in the company of business people and similarly also joins in our meeting with partners in Nigeria”.

The high commissioner expounded on the history between the two countries that dates back to the days of the liberation struggle. 

“We had many students during the struggle who studied in Nigeria and Swapo, then liberation movement, maintained a chief representative officer in Lagos. Our relationship is underpinned by Nigeria’s solid role as Frontline State during the difficult days of the struggle. We have frequent meetings with government leaders, governors and senior officials of the government and discussed issues of mutual interest between Namibia and Nigeria,” said !Geiseb. 

He added that former Namibian high commissioners to Nigeria have done well and laid a solid foundation: “Our part is to especially deepen relations between the government as well as individual states. For example, we have taken up the possible sister city relationship between Abuja and Windhoek, and we hope we can witness fruitful concrete cooperation between the two cities”.

Meanwhile, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah last week reiterated that once the full implementation of the AfCFTA is realised, countries will be able to position Africa to move away from the dependency on imports to become an industrialised continent.

“If we continue the culture of exporting raw materials out of the continent without value addition happening in Africa, we must know that we are exporting African jobs to other countries. This leaves African youth in poverty, forcing them to risk their lives on the high seas running after their jobs, whereby they will be labelled as illegal immigrants,” she said during an intra-Africa summit in Swakopmund.

“The implementation of the AfCFTA provides an opportunity for job creation and greater market access. As well as the further support of the regional and continental goals on regional integration in respect to the SADC within the AU roadmaps of development,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah. 

- ebrandt@nepc.com.na