Brazil businesses explore Nam prospects

A Brazilian delegation is in the country to explore business opportunities in the areas of tourism, minerals, telecommunication, general trade, textile, civil construction, hygienic products, car spare parts, mineral screening and reinsurance.

The delegation headed by Thomas Bloch is in the country for six days during which time they will pay a courtesy call on President Sam Nujoma, visit sites around the country, and also have interactive meetings with prospective business partners while assessing Namibia’s investment climate. The visit comes in the wake of a state visit to Brazil in June by President Nujoma where he held bilateral discussions with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on how to foster trade relations between Namibia and Brazil.Addressing the delegation in Windhoek yesterday, the Permanent Secretary of Trade and Industry Andrew Ndishishi said the visit by the Brazilians was an affirmation for business partners to respond to the call of heads of state of both countries to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.He said as developing countries Namibia and Brazil had similar needs which were reflected in their interaction through the South to South co-operation, adding that it was important for Namibia to work with Brazil to diversify its economy.”We are now moving to deepen the existing bilateral relations through enhancing economic cooperation, that is to say, the flow of trade and investment and technical cooperation between the two countries.”We will be executing our mandate to position Namibia in the global economy, by creating an enabling environment for the rapid growth of the SME sector and the entire private sector to industrialise the economy through value addition,” said Ndishishi.The Brazilian business delegation heard that the Ministry of Trade and Industry had identified priority investment sectors ranging manufacturing of automotive components, aquaculture, poultry, textiles and garments, and cement.The Manager: Projects and Incentives Division at the Namibia Investment Centre, Freddie !Gaoseb gave a presentation on Namibia’s investment climate detailing on the legal and policy framework, preferential market access, services provided by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the potential sectors for investment.The visit comes in the wake of a state visit to Brazil in June by President Nujoma where he held bilateral discussions with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on how to foster trade relations between Namibia and Brazil.Addressing the delegation in Windhoek yesterday, the Permanent Secretary of Trade and Industry Andrew Ndishishi said the visit by the Brazilians was an affirmation for business partners to respond to the call of heads of state of both countries to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.He said as developing countries Namibia and Brazil had similar needs which were reflected in their interaction through the South to South co-operation, adding that it was important for Namibia to work with Brazil to diversify its economy.”We are now moving to deepen the existing bilateral relations through enhancing economic cooperation, that is to say, the flow of trade and investment and technical cooperation between the two countries.”We will be executing our mandate to position Namibia in the global economy, by creating an enabling environment for the rapid growth of the SME sector and the entire private sector to industrialise the economy through value addition,” said Ndishishi.The Brazilian business delegation heard that the Ministry of Trade and Industry had identified priority investment sectors ranging manufacturing of automotive components, aquaculture, poultry, textiles and garments, and cement.The Manager: Projects and Incentives Division at the Namibia Investment Centre, Freddie !Gaoseb gave a presentation on Namibia’s investment climate detailing on the legal and policy framework, preferential market access, services provided by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the potential sectors for investment.