Nam urges Thais to invest

NAMIBIA’S Ambassador in Malaysia, Neville Gertze, has urged Thais to invest in Namibia, particularly in diamond and jewellery cutting, mining and raw material supply for Thai jewellery.

Gertze is also accredited to Thailand. “We see Thai investors can take this opportunity to look for joint ventures in establishing gem cutting and diamond cutting in Namibia to cut operating costs,” Gertze told Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan during their meeting yesterday.Thailand’s Bangkok Post newspaper quoted Mingkwan as saying that his country’s Commerce Ministry would in the near future organise business trips to Namibia in order to seek trade and business opportunities, especially related to raw materials for the Thai jewellery industry.The Thai jewellery industry now imports raw materials from Namibia, mainly through middlemen.Two-way trade between Namibia and Thailand was worth only US$5,05 million (about N$40 million) last year, with Thai exports representing US$4,20 million (N$34 million).Thai exports were mainly for automobiles and parts, processed seafood, rubber products, machinery and components.Namibia exports animal products and textiles to Thailand.Mingkwan said barter trade would probably be promoted to expand trade with Namibia, as the country desperately needed agricultural products from Thailand such as rice and seafood products.Nampa”We see Thai investors can take this opportunity to look for joint ventures in establishing gem cutting and diamond cutting in Namibia to cut operating costs,” Gertze told Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan during their meeting yesterday.Thailand’s Bangkok Post newspaper quoted Mingkwan as saying that his country’s Commerce Ministry would in the near future organise business trips to Namibia in order to seek trade and business opportunities, especially related to raw materials for the Thai jewellery industry.The Thai jewellery industry now imports raw materials from Namibia, mainly through middlemen.Two-way trade between Namibia and Thailand was worth only US$5,05 million (about N$40 million) last year, with Thai exports representing US$4,20 million (N$34 million).Thai exports were mainly for automobiles and parts, processed seafood, rubber products, machinery and components.Namibia exports animal products and textiles to Thailand.Mingkwan said barter trade would probably be promoted to expand trade with Namibia, as the country desperately needed agricultural products from Thailand such as rice and seafood products.Nampa