EU, SADC to launch EPAs in Windhoek

EUROPEAN Union commissioners will launch the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations this week.

EU commissioners; Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson and the Commissioner for Trade Danuta Hubner, arrived in the country yesterday for a week-long visit. The two commissioners and their SADC counterparts will on Thursday launch negotiations for the EPA between the EU and SADC countries of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Tanzania.EPA negotiations are aimed at promoting trade and development by concluding region-to-region agreements before the end of 2007.The EU commissioners will also hold meetings with the Namibian Government to review areas of common interest, political development, ongoing and planned cooperation.Meetings are scheduled with President Sam Nujoma, Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, ministers, regional governors and NGOs among others.The two commissioners are to review progress of EU-supported projects in the fields of education, health and HIV-AIDS, fisheries and the Walvis Bay Corridor Initiative.They will also tour commercial, resettlement and affirmative action farms to gain first-hand knowledge on land reform in the country.The two commissioners and their SADC counterparts will on Thursday launch negotiations for the EPA between the EU and SADC countries of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Tanzania.EPA negotiations are aimed at promoting trade and development by concluding region-to-region agreements before the end of 2007.The EU commissioners will also hold meetings with the Namibian Government to review areas of common interest, political development, ongoing and planned cooperation.Meetings are scheduled with President Sam Nujoma, Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, ministers, regional governors and NGOs among others.The two commissioners are to review progress of EU-supported projects in the fields of education, health and HIV-AIDS, fisheries and the Walvis Bay Corridor Initiative.They will also tour commercial, resettlement and affirmative action farms to gain first-hand knowledge on land reform in the country.