China trip an ‘eye opener’ for Namibian businesses

NAMIBIAN entrepreneurs can learn a lot from China in terms of business and economic development, says the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).

Tarah Shaanika, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, said a recent trip to China was an eye opener, which exposed a Namibian business delegation to the booming Chinese market. A group of more than 20 business people formed part of the Namibian delegation led by President Hifikepunye Pohamba, which toured Singapore and then attended the inaugural China-Africa Forum held in Beijing early this month.More than 40 African heads of state and ministers were in Beijing for a summit with China on trade and investment.In an interview with The Namibian, Shaanika was positive about the trip, saying Namibians could tap into Chinese technology expertise and disciplined work ethic.Shaanika said China was a vast market and the Chinese were ready to engage Namibia in new lines of business like the car industry and manufacturing of agricultural products such as pesticides and fertilisers.He said the summit proved to the world that China was serious about doing business with Africa, and that it was not about the emerging economic powerhouse trying to rip off the world’s poorest continent.”The meetings went very well, and businesses learnt very vital things,” he said.Shaanika could not say how many deals had been made, as individual businesses had conducted their own meetings.Prominent local entrepreneur and Managing Director of Trustco Group International, Quinton van Rooyen, said the Chinese were eager to do business with Namibian counterparts as part of the Asian giant’s mission to develop trade with Africa.Van Rooyen said discussions with Chinese business people had a different atmosphere than doing business in Europe and the United States.”I have travelled often to the West but the difference there is that most times you get intimidated and patronised …but in China we were on equal footing,” he said, adding that in China the attitude was ‘do it’.He dismissed negative perceptions that China wanted to milk Africa of its resources, saying there were great business opportunities to be grasped in China.Ohlthaver & List Executive Chairman Sven Thieme, who also made the trip, said the technological advancement of China was something that local businessmen could emulate.Thieme, although excited about the China-Africa link, said businesses should exercise caution.”We, as Africans, are in need of trade partners but at the same time we should be careful that we do not get milked, but that the partnerships are for the benefit of all.”Shaanika said China was interested in doing business with local companies in all sectors.The Ministry of Trade and Industry is currently seeking import-duty exemption so as to get a variety of Namibian products into China duty free.After the summit, the Chinese official news agency Xinhua quoted Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko as saying that co-operation between Namibia and China in the mining sector would be advantageous to both countries, as it would supplement and expand the current trade balance, which was still very low.As its economy booms, China’s drive to buy African oil and other commodities has led to a big increase in two-way trade: it was worth US$42 billion (N$302,4 billion) in 2005.Africa has also become a growing market for Chinese goods, but critics have voiced concerns, saying Beijing is stifling African manufacturing.A group of more than 20 business people formed part of the Namibian delegation led by President Hifikepunye Pohamba, which toured Singapore and then attended the inaugural China-Africa Forum held in Beijing early this month.More than 40 African heads of state and ministers were in Beijing for a summit with China on trade and investment.In an interview with The Namibian, Shaanika was positive about the trip, saying Namibians could tap into Chinese technology expertise and disciplined work ethic.Shaanika said China was a vast market and the Chinese were ready to engage Namibia in new lines of business like the car industry and manufacturing of agricultural products such as pesticides and fertilisers.He said the summit proved to the world that China was serious about doing business with Africa, and that it was not about the emerging economic powerhouse trying to rip off the world’s poorest continent.”The meetings went very well, and businesses learnt very vital things,” he said.Shaanika could not say how many deals had been made, as individual businesses had conducted their own meetings.Prominent local entrepreneur and Managing Director of Trustco Group International, Quinton van Rooyen, said the Chinese were eager to do business with Namibian counterparts as part of the Asian giant’s mission to develop trade with Africa.Van Rooyen said discussions with Chinese business people had a different atmosphere than doing business in Europe and the United States.”I have travelled often to the West but the difference there is that most times you get intimidated and patronised …but in China we were on equal footing,” he said, adding that in China the attitude was ‘do it’.He dismissed negative perceptions that China wanted to milk Africa of its resources, saying there were great business opportunities to be grasped in China.Ohlthaver & List Executive Chairman Sven Thieme, who also made the trip, said the technological advancement of China was something that local businessmen could emulate.Thieme, although excited about the China-Africa link, said businesses should exercise caution.”We, as Africans, are in need of trade partners but at the same time we should be careful that we do not get milked, but that the partnerships are for the benefit of all.”Shaanika said China was interested in doing business with local companies in all sectors.The Ministry of Trade and Industry is currently seeking import-duty exemption so as to get a variety of Namibian products into China duty free.After the summit, the Chinese official news agency Xinhua quoted Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko as saying that co-operation between Namibia and China in the mining sector would be advantageous to both countries, as it would supplement and expand the current trade balance, which was still very low.As its economy booms, China’s drive to buy African oil and other commodities has led to a big increase in two-way trade: it was worth US$42 billion (N$302,4 billion) in 2005.Africa has also become a growing market for Chinese goods, but critics have voiced concerns, saying Beijing is stifling African manufacturing.