Fostering trade with Congo-Brazzaville

CABINET has given approval to the Ministry of Trade and Industry to continue spearheading the process of trade and investment with Congo-Brazzaville by commissioning a market study to identify the prospects and opportunities for doing business with the central African nation.

Cabinet further instructed the Ministries of Trade and Industry, and of Works, Transport and Communication as well as other relevant line ministries to speedily conclude and ratify all legal instruments, such as the Reciprocal Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, Agreement on Maritime Transport and Aviation and other related agreements for the promotion of trade and investment with Congo-Brazzaville. According to a media statement issued recently, Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to obtain relevant information on the costs of constructing trade warehouse facilities in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire to facilitate Namibian exports to the Congo and other central African markets.Cabinet also advised the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) to accelerate the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its Congolese counterpart.It furthermore instructed the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Agriculture, Water and Forestry to obtain relevant information from their Congolese counterparts on the requirements, customs charges and duties for the exportation of beef and related meat products, diary products and other exportable products.Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to convince Namibian businesses to participate in trade fairs in the Congo or to establish an annual Namibia trade fair event in the Congo.It has also directed that the Ministry of Trade and Industry to invite their Congolese counterparts for a reciprocal visit to Namibia during the course of this year (in 2008).Lastly, Cabinet gave approval to the aforesaid ministry to establish a commercial office in Congo-Brazzaville with the aim of assisting Namibian companies, goods and services to penetrate the Congolese market.During the official state visit of President Dennis Sassou Nguesso in July 2007 to Namibia, his Minister of Commerce and Industry extended an invitation for a Namibian trade delegation to visit his country.Consequently, a 28-member business delegation from Namibia visited the central African country from 24 to 28 September 2007.The business delegation had representatives from a variety of sectors, such as agriculture, mining, import and export, pharmaceutical products, transport, fishing, manufacturing, petroleum and gas, timber, hotels, beef or meat products, beer and warehousing.NampaAccording to a media statement issued recently, Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to obtain relevant information on the costs of constructing trade warehouse facilities in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire to facilitate Namibian exports to the Congo and other central African markets.Cabinet also advised the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) to accelerate the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its Congolese counterpart.It furthermore instructed the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Agriculture, Water and Forestry to obtain relevant information from their Congolese counterparts on the requirements, customs charges and duties for the exportation of beef and related meat products, diary products and other exportable products.Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to convince Namibian businesses to participate in trade fairs in the Congo or to establish an annual Namibia trade fair event in the Congo.It has also directed that the Ministry of Trade and Industry to invite their Congolese counterparts for a reciprocal visit to Namibia during the course of this year (in 2008).Lastly, Cabinet gave approval to the aforesaid ministry to establish a commercial office in Congo-Brazzaville with the aim of assisting Namibian companies, goods and services to penetrate the Congolese market.During the official state visit of President Dennis Sassou Nguesso in July 2007 to Namibia, his Minister of Commerce and Industry extended an invitation for a Namibian trade delegation to visit his country.Consequently, a 28-member business delegation from Namibia visited the central African country from 24 to 28 September 2007.The business delegation had representatives from a variety of sectors, such as agriculture, mining, import and export, pharmaceutical products, transport, fishing, manufacturing, petroleum and gas, timber, hotels, beef or meat products, beer and warehousing.Nampa