The Namibian government has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the business fraternity to address challenges that hinder trade and investment growth.
The Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, made this statement during a ministerial business engagement session in Mariental.
The ministerial engagement, conducted jointly by the Ministry of International Relations and Trade and the Ministry of Industries, Mines, and Energy, aims to provide a platform for direct input from the business community.
The government expects the engagement to enhance its understanding of export-related challenges, such as market access, trade facilitation, and non-tariff barriers.
"Hardap has distinguished itself as a region that thrives in the sea of tourism, gemstone mining, dairy products, beef, mutton, game crop farming, as well as many others. What we need to do is to upscale the production capacity and diversity of products produced in this region in order to take advantage of the regional, continental and global markets."
Ashipala-Musavyi further called for greater participation from businesses in the value chains at national, regional and global levels, highlighting this as the core objective of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Hardap Governor Riaan McNab urged for emphasis to be placed on agro-processing industries to add value to raw materials for export.
"We, therefore, encourage investment in logistics and management to improve integration and competitiveness within intra-African trade. The African Continental Free Trade Area thus aligns perfectly with Namibia's national development aspirations by promoting economic diversification, creating employment and fostering empowerment through expanded trade. I therefore call on all stakeholders, especially our private sector, government institutions and development partners, to collaborate closely in turning this vision into tangible outcomes."
The ministerial engagements, held under the theme 'Driving Namibia's Economic Prosperity through the African Continental Free Trade Area', are being conducted nationwide.