Africa-Press – Namibia. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s inaugural foreign mission to Angola has solidified a commitment to bolster economic cooperation between the two countries, with a strong focus on job-creation and food security.
This was announced by presidential press secretary Alfredo Hengari on Saturday, who stated that the president’s visit, concluded on Friday, saw Nandi-Ndaitwah and her Angolan counterpart João Lourenço engage in bilateral talks aimed at scaling up economic ties and addressing shared challenges.
“President Nandi-Ndaitwah and president Lourenço further agreed to take precise actions to scale up economic cooperation to deal with the shared challenges of unemployment, which disproportionately affects young people,” he said.
He further said both presidents emphasised the need to strengthen legal instruments and cooperation frameworks to fully realise the potential of the Bi-National Commission (BNC).
“Legal instruments and cooperation frameworks must be strengthened in order to give full effect to the decision both countries undertook in 2019 to upgrade the bilateral cooperation from a Joint Commission of Cooperation to a Bi-National Commission (BNC), to be co-chaired by the heads of state, signalling a heightened level of commitment,” said Hengari.
The two presidents directed their respective ministers of international relations and trade to promptly schedule the inaugural meeting of the BNC.
Key sectors identified for intensified collaboration include agriculture, energy, tourism, oil and gas, logistics and infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on water cooperation. “These are crucial areas that hold immense potential for creating jobs and driving economic growth in both countries,” said Hengari.
He added that agriculture, particularly value chains and livestock production, emerged as a priority.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed the importance of value addition to natural resources as a means of empowering young people and generating employment.
“Emphasising agricultural value chains, livestock production and value addition to natural resources for youth empowerment and job creation were top priorities for both countries,” he said.
Namibia’s burgeoning oil and gas sector stands to benefit significantly from Angola’s established expertise.
Angola has already demonstrated willingness to provide training and assistance to Namibia’s nascent oil industry.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted the need for continued collaboration between Namcor and Sonangol in logistics, knowledge sharing and exploration.
Energy infrastructure, including the development of the Baynes Hydropower Plant, was identified as a vital catalyst for economic development. “The Baynes Hydropower Plant will not only provide much-needed energy but also stimulate economic activity across our borders,” he stated.
To facilitate trade and the movement of goods and people, the presidents expressed satisfaction with the 24-hour border post at Santa-Clara/Oshikango. The envisioned rail connection between the two countries was also hailed as a significant step towards strengthening bilateral trade.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who assumed office on 21 March said the working visit served as an opportunity to introduce herself to regional leaders and to learn from their experiences. She also expressed gratitude to Lourenço for Angola’s support following the passing of former presidents Hage Geingob and Founding President Sam Nujoma, and for attending her inauguration.
“I am deeply grateful for the support Angola has shown Namibia. Our nations share a long and intertwined history, and we must continue to strengthen our bonds,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The two presidents also agreed to set a date for the inauguration of the Cassinga and Shetekela Memorial Shrines, honouring the shared history and sacrifices of both nations.
During her visit, Nandi-Ndaitwah and first gentleman Ndenga Ndaitwah visited SONIILS, an Angolan logistics services company, to explore potential models for local content development and job creation in Namibia’s oil and gas sector.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
