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.