International obligations met

International obligations metUN, AU, SADC dues paid Namibia gives contributions in tough economic times. Namibia has fully paid its international obligations to affiliated international bodies despite economic constraints, says the presidential advisor for economic affairs, John Steytler.
Presenting a review of the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) at State House on Tuesday, Steytler said the country had fulfilled its financial obligations in the interest of maintaining international relations this year.
Namibia gave its contributions to the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), while also attracting investment opportunities.
He said diplomatic missions to Namibia successfully organised the marketing of investment opportunities in the country, which led to the Invest in Namibia Conference held in Windhoek last month.
The country, Steytler said, had also drawn international support in the war against poverty and continued to fuel solidarity with the oppressed people of other countries.
He said during the HPP period from its launch in April 2016 to September this year, Namibia ratified several international instruments, including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, instruments on conservation and reviews of the country’s foreign policy.
The HPP is the government’s development plan from 2016 to 2020 and focuses on poverty alleviation, wealth redistribution and industrialisation.
The deputy minister of international relations and cooperation, Peya Mushelenga, said international trips undertaken by the president and some cabinet ministers this year were done to attract trade and investment.
Mushelenga said the outcomes of the trips included new airlines flying to Namibia and the Invest in Namibia Conference that attracted several investment interests.
During the induction of cabinet ministers in 2015 President Geingob announced a moratorium on ministers’ foreign trips as a way of cutting costs.
NAMPA