About N$100 million was pledged to support Namibia’s long-term economic transformation and green industrial ambitions at the end of the second Namibia-European Union (EU) Business Forum in Windhoek on Wednesday.
A statement released at the end of the conference says the agreements came about after a three-day discussion on trade and investment, green industrialisation, critical raw materials, automotive industries, agribusiness and the cultural and creative sectors highlighted the need for support.
Addressing delegates during the closing session, EU ambassador to Namibia Ana-Beatriz Martins said the forum had demonstrated the growing momentum of the Namibia-EU partnership and the shared commitment to creating jobs, expanding industries and building sustainable economic growth.
“Namibia and the European Union have a unique opportunity to shape a sustainable and prosperous future together, for your citizens, for our citizens and for our shared planet.
We sign these commitments today, and from tomorrow we get to work,” Martins said.
The forum, which was attended by about 400 delegates, concluded the ‘Making Lüderitz Town Council Fit for the Future’ project to prepare Lüderitz for future investment, economic expansion and urban growth.
“The project will be implemented by the Association of Netherlands Municipalities in partnership with the Lüderitz Town Council, with an EU contribution of €1.5 million (N$29 million) and The Netherlands contribution of €308 000 (N$6 million) over two and a half years,” says the statement.
In addition, a total budget of €750 000 (N$14.5 million) over two years, was pledged for the ‘Support to the Namibian Standards Institute’ project to strengthen development for emerging green industries and enhance Namibia’s industrial competitiveness.
The initiative will be implemented by the German National Metrology Institute in partnership with the Namibian Standards Institution.
The Namibia window of the EU Pan-African Support to Geological Sciences and Technology programme, together with the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, will support the implementation of the critical raw materials value chains leg of the EU-Namibia partnership through coordination, knowledge management and improved access to geoscience-related equipment.
“The project carries a budget of €1.8 million (N$35 million) over two years.
“The National Critical Raw Materials Strategy project will support the development of Namibia’s policy, legal, institutional and investment frameworks for exploration, beneficiation and circular economy integration with a budget of €386 860 (N$7.5 million) over 12 months,” says the communique.
The forum was officially closed by the minister of international relations and trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi and attended by the director general of the National Planning Commission, Kaire Mbuende, and minister of industries, mines and energy Modestus Amutse.
Plans for a green industries summit, scheduled to take place at Swakopmund in September, were announced, positioning Namibia as one of Africa’s leading destinations for green industrial investment and strategic partnerships.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na
