South Africa and Namibia will convene a joint business forum in Johannesburg on Friday to address cross-border trade barriers and accelerate industrial investment between the two neighbouring countries.
The forum will take place under the theme “Driving Regional Industrialisation, Investment and Sustainable Growth Through Strategic South Africa–Namibia Partnerships,” reflecting the two countries’ shared interest in strengthening economic integration.
The forum which will be hosted by South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, forms part of the programme of the Bi‑National Commission, the highest-level structured mechanism governing cooperation between the two countries.
Government and private‑sector representatives from both sides are expected to identify obstacles slowing the movement of goods across the border and align strategies to improve transport and logistics systems.
Officials say the goal is to create conditions for seamless trade in processed goods and to unlock new industrial opportunities.
Acting Deputy Director‑General for Exports in the department, Willem Van der Spuy said bilateral relations between South Africa and Namibia should evolve to focus on promotion of “the development of regional value-chains and growth of the respective economies and creates employment by tapping into manufacturing and export potential in among others, agriculture and agro-processing, clothing, textile and footwear industries.”
He said; “South Africa and Namibia can leverage their complementary strengths to build more resilient regional production ecosystems, promote value addition and accelerate industrialisation.”
South Africa is Namibia’s largest trading partner, supplying the bulk of its imports and serving as a key market for Namibian exports ranging from minerals to manufactured goods.
Both governments say reducing trade bottlenecks and expanding industrial cooperation are essential to boosting growth and creating jobs across the region.
AP
