Namibia explores Middle Eastern meat market

Namibian beef from Lusu in the Zambezi region, north of the veterinary cordon fence (redline), may just end up on plates in the Middle East, following a state market-seeking exercise.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform continues to give northern communal area (NCA) cattle farmers a lifeline after embarking on a trade mission to the Middle East to explore new markets.

According to the latest issue of the Namibia Agriculture Union (NAU) newsletter, the ministry has sent a mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar to explore new markets for Namibia’s meat and meat products, especially from the NCAs.

“This mission offers exciting possibilities for expanding Namibia’s high-quality meat exports, attracting investments and creating more jobs in the country’s livestock industry,” the NAU says.

The UAE has emerged as an appealing market for Namibian meat, however, Dubai Chambers has advised Namibia to take care while selecting meat importers in the area.

Dubai Chambers is a non-profit public entity which supports Dubai’s vision as a global player by empowering businesses, providing innovative value-added services and access to influential networks.

“Kuwait consumes the most meat, followed by Saudi Arabia, while the UAE prefers bone-in lamb and goat over beef. Interestingly, the UAE used to import 80% of its meat from Sudan, but due to the political instability there, Namibia now has an opportunity to fill that gap,” the NAU newsletter quotes Dubai Chambers as saying.

During the exploratory mission, the state stressed the significance of halal certification for exporting meat to Muslim-dominated countries like the UAE and Qatar.

Halal certification ensures that meat processing adheres to Islamic dietary laws to make it acceptable for consumption.

The Halal Trade and Marketing Centre has provided valuable guidance on the certification process and has urged Namibia to speed up the certification process to meet the preferences and requirements of UAE and Qatar markets.

“These countries have strict standards for halal certification, so obtaining it is vital for Namibia to access these markets,” reads the NAU’s newsletter.

One challenge Namibia faces is that it does not have a halal certifying body that is recognised by the Gulf countries.

This means Namibia has to explore alternative options, such as using South African halal certifying bodies accepted in the Gulf region.

“While this could facilitate initial exports, Namibia should work towards establishing its own recognised halal certifying body in the long run to sustain the market,” the NAU says.

Apart from the UAE and Qatar, other Gulf countries also demand halal certification for meat imports.

This opens up opportunities for Namibia to expand its market to other countries in the region as well.

Halal certification would boost the attractiveness of Namibian meat in Muslim markets and enhance its reputation as a high-quality product.

Meanwhile, Meatco recorded increased cattle numbers coming through the Windhoek abattoir, resulting in good performances which generated around N$107 million and N$190 million, respectively, in May and June.
– matthew@namibian.com.na

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