Namibia and Singapore are exploring stronger cooperation in trade, investment and port development following high-level talks between the two countries during an official visit by international relations minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi.
Ashipala-Musavyi was in Singapore for a two-day official visit which eneded yesterday.
Chief on her agenda was deepening bilateral relations and expanding practical economic cooperation.
According to the ministry, on the first day of the visit, Ashipala-Musavyi held talks with Singapore’s minister of foreign affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan.
“The discussions focused on strengthening diplomatic relations and identifying new areas of cooperation, particularly in investment promotion, capacity building, and multilateral engagement,” reads the media releas
Economic cooperation also featured strongly throughout the engagements, as Namibia seeks to attract investment and develop value-added industries.
“Both sides highlighted the importance of closer collaboration to support sustainable economic growth and long-term development,” further read the statement.
Namibia’s top diplomat also met Singapore’s minister of state for trade and industry and national development, Alvin Tan. Their discussions centred on trade facilitation, industrial development and value-added manufacturing.
“The two ministers explored ways Namibia and Singapore could partner in industrial innovation and improve access to regional and international markets,” said the ministry.
Further during this visit, SMEs were identified as a key area for cooperation, as Ashipala-Musavyi is scheduled to engage with Enterprise Singapore to discuss support for their growth, partnerships in the agro-processing sector and cooperation in energy development.
“Port infrastructure and logistics development also formed a major part of the minister’s programme. She met with Ang Wee Keong, chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, where the two sides discussed port management, logistics efficiency, and the exchange of technical expertise. Improved port operations were identified as critical to enhancing Namibia’s connectivity and strengthening its position as a logistics hub,” the ministry added.
The minister was accompanied by a technical delegation of senior officials from the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, and the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, as well as the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the Namibia Ports Authority.