Italy, Spain eager to do business in Namibia

SPANISH and Italian companies have expressed their eagerness to do business with Namibia.

Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab and Minister of Finance Saara Kugongelwa-Amadhila yesterday received a delegation from Spain, while Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hidipo Hamutenya, played host to a business delegation from Italy. Prime Minister Gurirab received the two Spanish businessmen accompanied by their African business associates Ruiru Gikonyo and Henry Banda of Kenya and Zambia respectively.He applauded the combined Spanish and African approach noting that the Spanish private sector was already involved in Namibia’s fisheries, health, infrastructure and education sectors.Franscisco Rauon-Solaris of Expansion Exterior, said his company aims to encourage Spanish business with Namibia particularly in areas where Spain is very competitive world-wide.These include the processing of fish, medical equipment, airport equipment and solar energy technology.Juan Gariges represents Fomento al Desarrollo, a company formed by Expansion Exterior to manage all bilateral commercial relationships between Namibia and Spain and to promote and provide services to Spanish companies doing business here in Namibia.In particular they provide Spanish companies in Namibia with technical, commercial and financial services.He said that since the original bilateral protocol between Namibia and Spain is now finished, the delegation is looking for new projects and another protocol between the two countries.The delegation from the Italian government was led by Alesandro Sivieri of Italy’s Africa desk and Claudio Tonin the project manager of CISP, an Italian NGO promoting small and medium enterprise (SMME) in Namibia.Tonin explained that the delegation was in Namibia to evaluate on-going projects.However he said that though the organisation has been in Namibia since 1994, its latest project in co-operation with the Namibian Development Corporation and the Small Business Credit Guarantee Trust ended in March of this year.That project provided institutional support for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, he said.Over the last two years Italy’s support to the trade ministry in encouraging the SMME sector was worth between N$5 to N$6 million he said.The Italian government is to approve any new programmes based on the findings of the visiting delegation.Minister Hamutenya said that CISP was among the top performing NGO’s in Namibia in the SMME sector.He said he hopes the Italian government can support Namibia further as Italy boasts a strong SMME sector and can empower Namibians through developing the local sector and incorporating it into the mainstream economy further.Prime Minister Gurirab received the two Spanish businessmen accompanied by their African business associates Ruiru Gikonyo and Henry Banda of Kenya and Zambia respectively.He applauded the combined Spanish and African approach noting that the Spanish private sector was already involved in Namibia’s fisheries, health, infrastructure and education sectors.Franscisco Rauon-Solaris of Expansion Exterior, said his company aims to encourage Spanish business with Namibia particularly in areas where Spain is very competitive world-wide.These include the processing of fish, medical equipment, airport equipment and solar energy technology.Juan Gariges represents Fomento al Desarrollo, a company formed by Expansion Exterior to manage all bilateral commercial relationships between Namibia and Spain and to promote and provide services to Spanish companies doing business here in Namibia.In particular they provide Spanish companies in Namibia with technical, commercial and financial services.He said that since the original bilateral protocol between Namibia and Spain is now finished, the delegation is looking for new projects and another protocol between the two countries.The delegation from the Italian government was led by Alesandro Sivieri of Italy’s Africa desk and Claudio Tonin the project manager of CISP, an Italian NGO promoting small and medium enterprise (SMME) in Namibia.Tonin explained that the delegation was in Namibia to evaluate on-going projects.However he said that though the organisation has been in Namibia since 1994, its latest project in co-operation with the Namibian Development Corporation and the Small Business Credit Guarantee Trust ended in March of this year.That project provided institutional support for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, he said.Over the last two years Italy’s support to the trade ministry in encouraging the SMME sector was worth between N$5 to N$6 million he said.The Italian government is to approve any new programmes based on the findings of the visiting delegation.Minister Hamutenya said that CISP was among the top performing NGO’s in Namibia in the SMME sector.He said he hopes the Italian government can support Namibia further as Italy boasts a strong SMME sector and can empower Namibians through developing the local sector and incorporating it into the mainstream economy further.