WINDHOEK - President Hage Geingob concluded what has been described as a successful stop-over visit to Guinea-Conakry and immediately headed for Canada where he intends wooing that country’s investors and address issues of global peace, climate change and women empowerment.
During the working visit to Guinea, the two countries signed four agreements, namely Framework Agreement for Cooperation, Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Commission, Memorandum of Understanding on Political and Diplomatic Cooperation and a Memorandum of Understanding on Reciprocal Exemptions of visas for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
“President Geingob further reiterated Namibia’s commitment to a common African voice in international affairs, the reform of the United Nations Security Council and the African Union’s developmental blueprint, Agenda 2063,” said Dr Alfredo Hengari, press secretary in the Namibian presidency.
Geingob will also participate in the 37th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. His working visit to Canada, according to Hengari, is at the invitation of that country’s prime minister Justin Trudeau for engagements yesterday and today.
The Canadian prime minister’s website announced that Geingob is on a two-day working visit from September 20 to 21 September.
During the visit, Geingob will meet with Trudeau to discuss issues of mutual interest, including creating economic growth that benefits everyone, building a safer and more peaceful world, combatting climate change, and advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“Canada and Namibia enjoy a friendship rooted in shared values and a strong history of cooperation. I look forward to meeting with President Geingob to discuss ways our two countries can work together to fight climate change, make gender equality a reality, and create more opportunities for all our citizens,” the Canadian Prime Minister was quoted as having said.
Diplomatic relations between Canada and Namibia were established in 1990, following the latter’s independence.
Canada strongly supported Namibia’s independence, providing military peacekeepers, police monitors, election supervisors, and technical experts.
Canada and Namibia have a history of collaboration on shared priorities and work together within the United Nations and the Commonwealth.
In 2017, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Namibia totalled U$96.6 million (approximately N$1.4 billion), consisting of U$2.4 million (N$35 million) in exports from Canada, and U$94.2 million (N$1.37 billion) in imports from Namibia.
Canada provides international assistance to Namibia through multilateral and regional organisations, including the United Nations, World Bank, African Development Bank and the African Union.
In addition to meeting the Prime Minister, President Geingob will meet with Canadian Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr, as well as attend a business roundtable and a ceremony at the Peacekeeping Monument - commemorating Canada’s role in international peacekeeping – in Ottawa.
Hengari said in addition to delivering a statement to the United Nations General Assembly next week Tuesday, Geingob has another invitation extended by Norway Prime minister Erna Solberg.
The invitation by Solberg in Norway is for an inaugural meeting of the high-level panel on building a sustainable ocean economy.
Hengari further revealed that Geingob will also address the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, a United Nations high-level plenary on global peace, the Bloomberg Global Business Forum, and will further participate in the high-level meeting on financing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and another meeting on the fight to end tuberculous.
On the margins of General Assembly, Geingob will hold bilateral meetings with several heads of state and government, including Croatian President Kolinda Gabrar-Kitarovic.
He is also expected to meet Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves and Estonian President Kerti Kaljulaid.
Geingob is expected to leave New York and arrive in Namibia on Friday, 28 September.