2016-11-24Staff Report 2 Windhoek President Hage Geingob – whose trip to France later this month was confirmed last week – will also visit the United Kingdom (UK), where he is scheduled to meet with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. President Geingob will head to the UK after the conclusion of his official visit to France, his office confirmed late yesterday. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, visited Namibia in October 1991. Elizabeth II has been the head of both the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1952. Geingob will also deliver an address at the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatman House on November 30, State House said in a statement. Chatham House is an independent policy institute, whose mission is to analyse and promote understanding of major international issues and current affairs. “This public lecture at the prestigious Chatham House will be attended by students, leading academics and the general public by invitation,” reads the statement. Geingob’s visits to the two European powerhouses are seen as extensions of his mission to relentlessly drive forward economic diplomacy to help grow the Namibian economy in the face of a global economic downturn. “To this end a series of investment events are planned whilst in London, focused solely on Namibia. On the 30th of November the President will address more than 300 investors at Berkley Square. “On the 1st of December there will be a full day of activities, commencing with investor bilateral meetings from 09h00 to 12h00, in which accompanying ministers will also participate,” the presidency said. “A luncheon with 30 senior executives and business leaders is also planned and the day will end with a media conference at 15h30.” While in France President Geingob will seek to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, market access and investment opportunities in Namibia, with the aim of enhancing trade between the two countries, the Namibian Ministry of International Relations said. Geingob will have talks with French President Francois Hollande and will address the French business community and investors during his time in Paris. “In the spirit of the Namibian house President Geingob will meet with the Namibian community in France and inaugurate the Namibian Chancery in Paris,” the ministry further announced. Geingob’s policy of economic diplomacy appears to have passed its sternest test yet, after a successful series of investment promotion drives during 2016 in New York City on the margins of the UN General Assembly in September, as well as a prelude in Johannesburg in October to the Invest in Namibia International Investment Conference that was held in Windhoek earlier this month. 2016-11-24Staff Report 2
