Namibia is ready to send the first consignment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework at Walvis Bay on Monday.
Namibia will turn trade under the AfCFTA framework from theory to practice.
Under the agreement, the Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) will participate in intra-African trade when the first consignment is shipped from the Walvis Bay harbour.
"We are opening up the private sector to the African continent to say we have ratified this instrument; the African market is now open. Let's trade under the AfCFTA rules. Africa must consume what it produces, and in order for us to do that, we must industrialise," said Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi.
The minister said industrialisation is a vital aspect of the agreement, and Namibia's economy will be transformed by participating in and accessing the US$1.3 billion market.
"That market is huge, and we have to add value to what we have because if you don't produce, you will not sell; others will sell to you. Now, in addition to goods, there are also services because there is a movement of goods and services. There are services in the financial sector, which means that the banks can now also explore opportunities in the African market. Our doctors, for example, can also go and set up business on the African continent."
Ashipala-Musavyi stressed that the opportunities are open to all sectors, including small and medium enterprises.
She explained that the ministry is facilitating workshops in all regions for SMEs to be aware of the opportunities.
"We have to expose our SMEs. What I have been telling our SMEs is to harness the collective strength; don't go in individually; come together; if you have the same product, come in together, harness that product and become competitive. We also want to say we are not leaving behind the SMEs; we are assisting them in terms of product development, but mostly exposure."
The minister cited tariff-free trade as one major advantage under the platform.
The private sector is encouraged to network and further approach Namibian embassies on the continent to assist in finding them markets.