Vice President Nangolo Mbumba has extended an open invitation to Namibian and Angolan businesses to consider participating in the vast untapped trade and investment potential that the two countries offer.
“One of those areas of immense potential is agriculture. Our two countries are endowed with vast tracts of fertile land, yet we rely on importing agricultural products. Namibia has a maturing agro-processing industry, and stands ready to cooperate with Angola,” he said.
Mbumba made this statement on Thursday during an official dinner on the occasion of Angolan Vice President Bornito de Sousa Baltazar Diogo’s official visit to Namibia, adding that water and energy are two more crucial areas of cooperation with tremendous potential.
Diogo arrived in Namibia on Wednesday to undertake a four-day working visit intended for consultations with his counterpart.
The visit becomes the first inbound official visit to be hosted by Mbumba since he became vice president.
The host stated that the two countries’ ministries of agriculture, water and energy should work together to implement mutually agreed-upon measures to assure the uninterrupted supply of water and electricity to Namibian and Angolan inhabitants.
Furthermore, Mbumba said Namibia and Angola should continue to work together within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and other forums to promote unity, maintain peace and ensure security in the region and on the African continent.
He informed his counterpart Diogo that Namibia will be assuming the chairpersonship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation at the August summit in the DRC.
“We look forward to Angola’s support in our joint efforts towards the preservation and maintenance of peace and security in our region,” he urged.
Mbumba said Namibia and Angola enjoy solid and excellent brotherly and sisterly relations, which are cemented by a rich and heroic history.
“Our cordial relations are dating back to the difficult years of our struggle against colonialism. Angola was our second home. Thousands of Namibians fleeing the yoke of apartheid colonial oppression were given shelter by our Angolan brothers and sisters,” Mbumba continued.
He said Angola stood firm with Namibia during those dark days and for this, and many other reasons, Namibians continue to remain eternally grateful.
“Our excellent bilateral cooperation has always been characterised by a common vision and a desire to strengthen political, diplomatic, economic, social, defence and security cooperation,” he observed.
Mbumba also expressed his delight at the two countries’ agreement to elevate the Joint Commission mechanism, which was previously co-chaired by both countries’ ministers, to a Bi-National Commission, which will now be chaired by both countries’ presidents, President Hage Geingob and his Angolan counterpart João Lorenço.
– ktjitemisa@nepc.com.na