UK keen to invest in Namibia

UK keen to invest in Namibia Brexit gave the United Kingdom an opportunity to strengthen existing relations with Commonwealth countries such as Namibia, said its minister to Africa Andrew Stephenson on Wednesday.

At the same time, Kate Airey, the British High Commissioner to Namibia, announced that the UK has pledged eight million pounds (about N$149 million) to increase direct trade and deepen bilateral relations with southern African countries.

According to her, Britain will directly work with the trade ministries of the respective African countries.

The export of Namibian goods to the UK was estimated at N$1 billion, with imports from the UK valued at N$983 million in 2014.

According to data from the British embassy in Windhoek, Namibian exports to the UK stood at US$469.2 million in 2018, while imports from UK to Namibia were US$198.6 million the same year.

Namibian imports included ships, boats and other floating infrastructure, nuclear reactors and boilers, while Namibia exported raw material which includes diamonds, beef, fish, charcoal and other agricultural products such as grapes and avocados.

Stephenson, who is on a familiarisation tour to Africa, paid a courtesy visit to President Hage Geingob this week and informed Geingob that a new programme, aimed to boost bilateral investments and ensure Britain becomes a 'turbo-charger' on global relations, will soon be announced. He also added that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is very keen to deepen the partnership with Africa and believes that Brexit will give Britain an opportunity to have its own independent trade policy for the first time in decades.

“We can strengthen our trade relationships here and in other African countries and we can look at how can get more UK firms to work in partnerships with firms in this country for shared prosperity and a sustainable future to create jobs for the young people,” he said.

Stephenson added that there is a huge range of issues Namibia and the UK can work closely on, including climate change. President Geingob said Namibia is also keen to strengthen ties with countries like Britain, which is why he has instructed his ministers to process proposals by investors faster.

“I have encouraged all my ministers not to sit on requests of submissions by potential investors. Namibia is the hub for business through our corridor concept through which we have given Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe dry ports so that they can be linked to the sea,” Geingob said.

JEMIMA BEUKES