The Agro Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA) and World Food Programme (WFP) Namibia last week agreed to cooperate and signed an agreement on relative and innovative ways of expanding the agribusiness markets and strengthening Namibia’s strategic food reserves. The signing took place at the UN House in Windhoek on Friday, 13 January 2023 in the presence of WFP’s Regional Director for Southern Africa, Menghestab Haile. 

This deal, signed by AMTA’s interim managing director, Salomo Hei and WFP Country Director, George Fedha, is a form of mutual commitment in complementing national development, particularly in achieving both Namibia’s food security objectives and the United Nations’ sustainable developmental goals on combating hunger and poverty through food security enhancing efforts.

The agreement is focused on, among others,

agro-logistics including fresh-hub enhancement for packaging and cold storage of fresh produce; supply chain feasibility study, strengthening logistics competencies through capacity building and skills training; strategic reserve expansion and addressing global food price increments.

It also focuses on promoting competitive and inclusive growth by addressing volatility in the grain markets; building a green and resilient future by addressing climate-responsive supply chain and market systems strengthening measures.

The development of green supply chains, including eco-efficient network design, back-shoring, introducing intermodal transportation as well as switching from returnable to disposable containers.