What Do We Sell In China?

THE Government of the Republic of Namibia established bilateral diplomatic and trade relations with the Republic of China at independence in 1990, and it is understood that the Namibian president is touring the Republic of China within the framework of these relations.

It is also a general understanding that trade relations have increased between the two countries since Namibia’s independence and that the Chinese companies have been investing in Namibia within the ambit of these trade relations to help develop the country’s economy. While this is quite commendable, one is left to lament the ever-increasing Chinese retail outlets throughout the length and breadth of Namibia.If the trade relations between the two countries is the cause of the mushrooming of small Chinese retail outlets in Namibia, then the conditions prescribing these trade relations need to be reconsidered.Most, if not all, the Chinese small shops sell ready made products imported from China, or elsewhere, to the Namibian market, and usually employ between one to three persons, including Namibians, at rates below the breadline.It is therefore hardly imaginable how such small retail outlets contribute to the national development of the country.Were the trade relations that the two countries have entered into with the independence of Namibia not meant to provide exchange of expertise and experience between the two countries where the Namibian Government should have benefited from the expertise and experience provided by its much bigger and stronger business partner? Were the trade relations not meant to bring Chinese companies into Namibia to help develop such areas as the mining sector, manufacturing industry, fisheries, construction, food processing etc? It is in light of the foregoing that it is very difficult to understand why small Chinese shops are allowed to grow by day when they do not provide any experience and expertise alluded to the above.In fact it is not clear, much less understood, how operating such ventures can be termed “investment” in the wider context of Namibia’s economic development.On the contrary, the small Chinese retail outlets can at best be construed as being in direct competition with the local Namibian entrepreneurs, such as the street vendors selling woodcrafts, leather goods and other locally manufactured products.The products that are being sold at the Chinese retail outlets are also very cheap and thus pose a danger of being negatively impinging on the production of Namibian products.That is the Namibian public will be less eager to buy cheaper products at these outlets.It might also be interesting to know what Namibian products are being sold in China and whether they match the influx of Chinese products into Namibia.Judah McCrae WindhoekWhile this is quite commendable, one is left to lament the ever-increasing Chinese retail outlets throughout the length and breadth of Namibia.If the trade relations between the two countries is the cause of the mushrooming of small Chinese retail outlets in Namibia, then the conditions prescribing these trade relations need to be reconsidered.Most, if not all, the Chinese small shops sell ready made products imported from China, or elsewhere, to the Namibian market, and usually employ between one to three persons, including Namibians, at rates below the breadline.It is therefore hardly imaginable how such small retail outlets contribute to the national development of the country.Were the trade relations that the two countries have entered into with the independence of Namibia not meant to provide exchange of expertise and experience between the two countries where the Namibian Government should have benefited from the expertise and experience provided by its much bigger and stronger business partner? Were the trade relations not meant to bring Chinese companies into Namibia to help develop such areas as the mining sector, manufacturing industry, fisheries, construction, food processing etc? It is in light of the foregoing that it is very difficult to understand why small Chinese shops are allowed to grow by day when they do not provide any experience and expertise alluded to the above.In fact it is not clear, much less understood, how operating such ventures can be termed “investment” in the wider context of Namibia’s economic development.On the contrary, the small Chinese retail outlets can at best be construed as being in direct competition with the local Namibian entrepreneurs, such as the street vendors selling woodcrafts, leather goods and other locally manufactured products.The products that are being sold at the Chinese retail outlets are also very cheap and thus pose a danger of being negatively impinging on the production of Namibian products.That is the Namibian public will be less eager to buy cheaper products at these outlets.It might also be interesting to know what Namibian products are being sold in China and whether they match the influx of Chinese products into Namibia.Judah McCrae Windhoek