Aussenkehr, a settlement located on the banks of the Orange River, is known for its agricultural activities, particularly the cultivation of table grapes, which are exported to Europe.

The settlement has a primary school, a government clinic, a police station, and a shopping centre.

Despite being a billion-dollar industry, the farmworkers in the vineyards in Aussenkehr live in harsh conditions, lacking access to clean water, sanitation, and basic services.

The government has maintained its stance on the export of minerals in their raw forms.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Kornelia Shilunga, reiterated this stance when the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises sought clarity following the announcement prohibiting the export of critical minerals without value addition.

As the discussion of the energy transition progresses, countries globally are recognising the growing importance of what are referred to as critical minerals.

These include minerals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, and tanzanite.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform (MAWLR) has announced that Namibian beef and lamb can now be exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.

The Executive Director in the ministry, Ndiyakupi Ngituwamata, says the ministry has secured markets for export-approved abattoirs both in the northern communal areas (NCAs) and south of the veterinary cordon fence (Red Line).

The NCA export-approved abattoirs can export beef to Qatar, while those south of the Red Line can export beef and lamb to the UAE.

Namibia's exports to Japan are notably lower than its imports, as disclosed by the Minister of Trade, Lucia Iipumbu.

Exports amounted to N$90 million, while imports reached N$1.4 billion.

It is against this background that Namibia and Japan signed various agreements, including one to improve the balance of trade.

A number of sectors have been identified, which could culminate in a possible joint commission of cooperation between the two countries.

Accredited traders in Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa will now benefit from reduced trade costs and simplified import-export procedures.

This positive development is the result of a mutual recognition arrangement signed by the five member states of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

Through the agreement, the Commissioners General of Revenue Authorities in the five countries agreed to recognise one another's authorised economic operators (AEO).

MeatCo says it has introduced a number of reforms and restructuring to remain afloat, despite natural calamities which affected the livestock sector.

Its Chief Executive Officer Mwilima Mushokobanji was responding to a recent remark by Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Minister Carl Schleittwein who described the state-owned meat processing and marketing entity as being in an ICU.

Schlettwein made this remark during his staff address in Windhoek.

Namibia's green schemes can be more competitive if the country finds export markets.

This is the view of Maxwell Nghidinwa farm Manager at Sikondo Green Scheme in the Kavango West Region.

Sikondo is one of the projects that is managed by the government after Uvhungu Vhungu and Shadikongoro were offered for lease to private investors.

Nghidinwa says the market especially for vegetables is always a problem and this hampers' the farm from increasing its production capacity.

Namibia imported goods worth N$ 4.8 billion from South Africa, while goods exported by Namibia amounted to a mere N$ 1.5 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of N$ 3.3 billion in November 2022.
The Namibia Trade Statistics bulletin for November 2022 issued on Wednesday by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) revealed that other countries that mainly contributed to the overall monthly trade deficit are India and Italy, having recorded trade deficits valued at N$ 804 million and N$ 402 million, respectively.