Namibia receives rice valued at N$60 million from South Korea

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) on Monday donated close to 5 000 metric tonnes of rice worth about N$60 million to the Namibian government.

Prime minister Elijah Ngurare received the donation, which will be distributed across all 14 regions of the country, on behalf of the government.

Speaking at the handover event, Ngurare commended South Korea for the assistance, noting that it comes at a time when Namibia is grappling with drought in some areas and flooding in the Zambezi region.

The prime minister also thanked the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) for facilitating the process.

“This donation comes at a timely moment to complement the work that the government is doing in providing food security to our people,” Ngurare said.

“The aim is to ensure that the vulnerable members of our society receive this support, including indigenous minority communities that are also affected by food insecurity,” he added.

Namibia and South Korea have maintained bilateral relations for almost 36 years.

Also speaking at the handover, South Korea’s ambassador to Namibia, Kwang-Jin Choi, said the rice donation, expected to benefit approximately 300 000 Namibians, represents more than a transfer of resources.

“It is a symbol of Korea’s unwavering commitment to stand with Namibia in times of unpredictable challenges,” he said.

The ambassador added that Korea remains committed to improving the well-being of the Namibian people during times of shared vulnerability.

“We will continue to work closely with the Namibian government to build a more vibrant, resilient and prosperous future for both nations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the WFP’s regional director for eastern and southern Africa, Eric Perdison, reaffirmed the organisation’s support for the Namibian government.

“WFP will continue to ensure that beyond facilitating the process to reach this point, we also support food quality and safety management, as well as best practices that promote proper consumption within communities,” Perdison said.

He added that the organisation will continue coordinating with the prime minister’s office to ensure that communities benefit from the assistance. – Nampa

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