The 10th Session of the Namibia-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation has emphasised the need to urgently resolve technical barriers to trade.
The session ended at Swakopmund on Thursday.
The 10th Session of the Namibia-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation focused on crucial matters affecting development, such as economic and infrastructure development, transport and communications, health, minerals and energy, and agriculture, amongst others.
Namibia's Minister of International Relations, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the commission has formulated responses to the developmental challenges.
The signing of an agreement to facilitate and support the private sector to build an oil and gas pipeline from Zambia to Namibia is one of them. "The success of our cooperation should not be judged on the number of agreements we sign but on their implementation and impact on the livelihoods of our people. Therefore, I urge our senior officials, in conjunction with the private sector, to ensure the implementation of this important agreement without delay. We must know that policies and programmes are what they are when implemented, but when no action is taken, it is just as good as having no policy or programme."
The commission noted that the Zambian dry port at Walvis Bay continues to be a key enabler for cross-border trade.
Moreover, it highlighted the progress made on the establishment of a one-stop border post at the Katima Mulilo-Wenela border post and urged the countries to develop an implementation plan.
Zambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Stanley Kakubo, stressed that the session has increased the two countries resolve to deepen their cooperation in various sectors. "I also wish to reiterate the importance of adhering to the set implementation timeframes contained in the signed agreements of the 10th session of the Zambian and Namibia JPC. This will help us to speedily deliver social and economic gains for both our people."
The commission has also welcomed the completion of a feasibility study to construct a railway line from Grootfontein to Katima Mulilo, to enable the countries to create a railway link