The European Union and the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade will host the Economic Partnership Agreement trade forum next week.

The purpose of the forum is to sensitize Namibian organisations and companies on the export and import opportunities under the Namibia-EU agreement.

The EPA is an agreement signed between the European Union and several SADC countries in 2016, with the implementation having commenced in 2018.

However, not many organisations and companies are aware of these opportunities for trade within the agreement, hence the trade forum that aims to raise awareness of available opportunities.

Sinikka Antila is the Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Namibia.

"You sell more to the EU than what you buy, which is good for the economy. We have noticed that even though we launched a long time ago, there is no awareness about the EPA."

The day will also provide SMEs with the opportunity to exhibit their businesses for opportunities to trade with European countries said Diana Tjiposa, Acting Director of International Trade in the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade.

"We can just ensure that there is full use of the agreement, especially the opportunities that are provided for under this agreement. Most of the time, we have the agreements signed but we don't do the necessary sensitization."

A few delegates from Namibia and European countries will be in attendance, and the public can join online by registering.