SA’s Limpopo reaches out to the North

AS a way of promoting trade and strengthening commercial ties between countries in the region, a business delegation from South Africa is in Namibia seeking ways of bridging the trade gaps between the two nations.

The 11-member task team from the Limpopo Province is specifically trying to create business links with Namibia’s northern regions. The business team, led by Charles Mamabolo from the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environment, arrived in the country on Monday and has already met with Government officials, mainly from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and representatives of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).The delegation is seeking trade ties mainly in the areas of tourism, trade and investment, textiles, small and medium enterprises business support and empowerment, manufacturing, agriculture and arts and crafts.Members of the delegation gave presentations on what Limpopo had to offer at an event held at a hotel in Windhoek yesterday.Emily Khunong from the Trade and Investment Centre of Limpopo said there was room to increase the trade between the Limpopo Province and neighbouring SADC countries.As one of South Africa’s fastest growing regions, Limpopo presented a number of opportunities for investors, those in attendance were told.Khunong said investment opportunities lay mainly in the areas of mining, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.She applauded the establishment of the Walvis Bay Corridor as a move towards promoting trade with the region.The Limpopo province, in the northern part of South African borders Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana and has a population of around 5,5 million.The province’s economy grew from R31,065 billion in 1995 to R81,3 billion in 2003.Mining contributes to around 21 per cent of provincial GDP.Exports from Limpopo total R7 billion, with 90 per cent of exports from the mining sector.The province mainly exports to the European Union and Asia, with very little going to the SADC – a situation which Khunong said needed to be reversed.The Indigenous Business Forum welcomed the move by the South Africans, with IBF Vice President Johannes Nekundi saying it was high time that business people from both countries forged alliances for the good of both economies.The South African High Commissioner to Namibia, Timothy Maseko, said Africa was endowed with natural resources that should be used to develop and uplift the continent.He added that it was vital that the northern region of Namibia forged a relationship with Limpopo to bring about economic transformation which would benefit both parties.A larger business delegation from Limpopo is expected to participate at the Ongwediva Trade Fair to take place next month.The trade mission was organised by the Namibia Investment Centre in co-operation with the Oshana Regional Council and the High Commissioner of South Africa, and the South African delegation is scheduled to leave Namibia at the weekend.The business team, led by Charles Mamabolo from the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environment, arrived in the country on Monday and has already met with Government officials, mainly from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and representatives of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).The delegation is seeking trade ties mainly in the areas of tourism, trade and investment, textiles, small and medium enterprises business support and empowerment, manufacturing, agriculture and arts and crafts.Members of the delegation gave presentations on what Limpopo had to offer at an event held at a hotel in Windhoek yesterday.Emily Khunong from the Trade and Investment Centre of Limpopo said there was room to increase the trade between the Limpopo Province and neighbouring SADC countries.As one of South Africa’s fastest growing regions, Limpopo presented a number of opportunities for investors, those in attendance were told.Khunong said investment opportunities lay mainly in the areas of mining, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.She applauded the establishment of the Walvis Bay Corridor as a move towards promoting trade with the region.The Limpopo province, in the northern part of South African borders Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana and has a population of around 5,5 million.The province’s economy grew from R31,065 billion in 1995 to R81,3 billion in 2003.Mining contributes to around 21 per cent of provincial GDP.Exports from Limpopo total R7 billion, with 90 per cent of exports from the mining sector.The province mainly exports to the European Union and Asia, with very little going to the SADC – a situation which Khunong said needed to be reversed.The Indigenous Business Forum welcomed the move by the South Africans, with IBF Vice President Johannes Nekundi saying it was high time that business people from both countries forged alliances for the good of both economies.The South African High Commissioner to Namibia, Timothy Maseko, said Africa was endowed with natural resources that should be used to develop and uplift the continent.He added that it was vital that the northern region of Namibia forged a relationship with Limpopo to bring about economic transformation which would benefit both parties.A larger business delegation from Limpopo is expected to participate at the Ongwediva Trade Fair to take place next month.The trade mission was organised by the Namibia Investment Centre in co-operation with the Oshana Regional Council and the High Commissioner of South Africa, and the South African delegation is scheduled to leave Namibia at the weekend.