Zimbabwe, Namibia to re-establish direct trade

Commerce has said.

This follows a visit by a delegation of Zimbabwean businesspeople to Namibia recently.
Numerous trade opportunities exist in both countries, and the Zimbabwe-Namibia Forum has called on for both parties to promote and resume direct trade.
Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Mike Bimha and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry president Dr Joseph Kanyekanye led the delegation.

Deputy Minister Bimha said the visit to Namibia was aimed at enhancing trade and economic relations between the two countries through creating a platform for business people to network and explore business opportunities.

“It was agreed that the Zimbabwe-Namibia Business Forum be an annual event and the next forum is scheduled for March 2012 in Kariba, Zimbabwe,” he said
The forum included visits to major Namibian companies based in Walvis Bay as well as Namibia ports (NamPorts).

He added that Namibia proves to be a viable trading partner, offering good opportunities and there was need to utilise the opportunities since trade between the two countries had been on the decline.
He said Zimbabwe could use NamPorts to import from other countries such as China.
“We noted that the NamPorts has witnessed phenomenal growth during the past four years and was handling 5,8 million tonnes of cargo annually,

“The tariffs charged by the port authorities in Namibia are much lower than those at Durban. The port is also very safe with no congestion and there has never been a truck lost in Namibia,” he said.
He also noted that there were already huge imports of machinery through the port from China to Zimbabwe and direct trade with Namibia was more efficient.
“”It takes 90 days to import from China through Durban to Zimbabwe, while it only takes 30 days through Walvis Bay,” said Mr Bimha.

The delegation also saw the land allocated for the Zimbabwean dry ports and noted that Zambia and Botswana were also allocated land for dry ports.
“There is need for Zimbabwe to develop its dry port since there were a lot of cars harboured in Namibia destined for Zimbabwe.
The Namibian business people are willing to sell fish and salt while their Zimbabwean counterparts are willing to trade in timber, which is mainly used in ship repairing at Walvis Bay.

Trade between Zimbabwe and Namibia has plummeted from a high of US$160 million in 2006 to less than US$20 million.