Zambia looking at dry port at Walvis Bay

MORE and more landlocked countries within Southern Africa are looking towards Walvis Bay as an ideal harbour for their import and export needs.

Zambia is the latest country to show interest in setting up a dry port in Namibia’s profitable harbour facilities. According to Joe-Ann Stevens, a Zambian delegation visited Namport last week to, amongst others, discuss the prospects of setting up a piece of land where their cargo would be handled locally.It was also announced by Zambian head of state, Levy Mwanawasa, recently that the country intends to set up a dry port at Walvis Bay, which will be a result of the Katima Mulilo bridge across the Zambezi river that has opened up and easy route for imports and exports through Walvis Bay.The same sentiment was shown by Botswana, who is also intending to set up a dry port in Namibia’s harbour town.The main network of corridors (the west-east Trans-Kalahari and south-north Trans-Caprivi) have been a major contribution to Walvis Bay being promoted as ideally situated for – especially landlocked countries in southern Africa – import and export needs.”We are aggressively marketing to promote these corridors, and Zambia’s volumes through Namport has increased tremendously,” she told The Namibian.She said that a parcel of land has already been identified at Namport and a lease-agreement will be drafted for the realisation of the proposal.Besides the Zambian government financing this venture, it is also considered an achievement of good marketing from Namport as well as the Namibian Government in promoting the port of Walvis Bay.The result would be that importers and exporters would have more confidence in using Namibia’s harbour facilities.According to Joe-Ann Stevens, a Zambian delegation visited Namport last week to, amongst others, discuss the prospects of setting up a piece of land where their cargo would be handled locally.It was also announced by Zambian head of state, Levy Mwanawasa, recently that the country intends to set up a dry port at Walvis Bay, which will be a result of the Katima Mulilo bridge across the Zambezi river that has opened up and easy route for imports and exports through Walvis Bay.The same sentiment was shown by Botswana, who is also intending to set up a dry port in Namibia’s harbour town.The main network of corridors (the west-east Trans-Kalahari and south-north Trans-Caprivi) have been a major contribution to Walvis Bay being promoted as ideally situated for – especially landlocked countries in southern Africa – import and export needs.”We are aggressively marketing to promote these corridors, and Zambia’s volumes through Namport has increased tremendously,” she told The Namibian.She said that a parcel of land has already been identified at Namport and a lease-agreement will be drafted for the realisation of the proposal.Besides the Zambian government financing this venture, it is also considered an achievement of good marketing from Namport as well as the Namibian Government in promoting the port of Walvis Bay.The result would be that importers and exporters would have more confidence in using Namibia’s harbour facilities.