Namibia continues to explore opportunities for collaboration in infrastructure development, trade facilitation and boosting imports and exports with Angola.
This comes after a delegation from the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Namibian embassy in Angola and other key government institutions conducted a high-level corridor assessment and a benchmarking exercise in Angola.
According to a statement from WBCG, the visit, which took place from 25 September to 5 October, aimed to compare best practices and asses key road, rail and port infrastructure, as well as operation efficiencies and engaging key stakeholders.
“The visit also identified opportunities for trade via the Trans-Cunene Corridor, which links the port of Walvis Bay to southern Angola,” the statement, issued by WBCG spokesperson Ndeshipanda Paulus on Friday says.
Addressing the meeting, which included stakeholders from Angola’s ministry of transport, the Caminho de Ferro de Benguela railway, and the ports of Lobito and Namibe, Namibia’s ambassador to Angola, Patrick Nandago, says the engagement not only strengthened the bilateral relationship between the two countries, but also contributed to broader regional integration efforts, while advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
“It is now our responsibility to become models of economic transformation, building on the political emancipation achieved by our founding fathers. While they connected our countries politically, we must now do the same for our economies.
However, it is important to acknowledge that the envisioned rail connectivity between our two countries has yet to be realised,” Nandago says.
WBCG chief executive Hippy Tjivikua says Angola and Namibia offer a complementary solution to landlocked countries like Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, by providing the shortest and most cost-effective access to and from international markets.
Tjivikua adds: “Southern Angola can greatly benefit from utilising the port of Walvis Bay for imports and exports, as it provides a more direct route that saves on time and costs. Likewise, northern Namibia can leverage Angola’s port of Namibe, fostering mutually beneficial trade opportunities between our two countries.”
He says extending WBCG wellness services along the corridors, starting from the Namacunde Roadside Wellness Clinic, can significantly support truck drivers and other corridor users, enhancing the group’s regional impact.
The Namibian delegation included executive director for works and transport Esther Kaapanda, top representatives from the WBCG, ministries of international relations and cooperation, industrialisation and trade, home affairs, immigration, as well as the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na
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