Namibia and Angola have agreed to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation amid declining trade between the two countries, with a proposed digital scorecard to monitor the implementation of agreements under their inaugural Bi-National Commission (BNC).
International Relations and Trade Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi proposed the digital scorecard during the ministerial session of the Angola-Namibia BNC in Luanda on Sunday.
“To ensure that we continuously track progress in the implementation of the agreed commitments of our Bi-National Commission, I propose, as a way forward, that we adopt a digital scorecard system for our BNC,” she said.
Ashipala-Musavyi said trade between the two countries had declined and needed to be revived through increased trade and investment.
“Trade between our two countries has declined and urgently needs to be recharged,” she said. She said the countries’ geographical proximity and existing people-to-people relations provided opportunities to strengthen commercial ties. The inaugural BNC is being held alongside the state visit of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to Angola.
The commission is co-chaired by Nandi-Ndaitwah and Angolan President João Lourenço.
The BNC builds on the Joint Commission of Cooperation between the two countries, with the new arrangement intended to accelerate the implementation of existing commitments through strategic guidance and oversight from the heads of state.
State House Press Secretary Jonas Mbambo said the involvement of the two presidents was intended to ensure that decisions made under the commission were implemented.
“The reason why the BNC is being chaired by the heads of state is for us to not only just make commitments on paper, it’s a sign that we want things to move, we want things to happen,” Mbambo said.
He said the decisions made by the leaders were intended to benefit the people of both countries.
Ashipala-Musavyi identified several infrastructure projects as areas of cooperation, including the proposed Baynes Hydropower Station, the Angola-Namibia Interconnector Project, a one-stop border post at Oshikango-Santa Clara and the proposed extension of the railway line from Oshikango into Angola.
She also highlighted discussions on extending the Cafu Canal water infrastructure into Namibia.
According to the minister, the projects could contribute to addressing socio-economic challenges in both countries when implemented.
Trade facilitation is another issue under discussion. During an interview with journalists in Angola, the minister said Angola’s ratification of the SADC Trade Protocol would provide a framework for improving access to the respective markets.
She said the protocol would enable businesses from both countries to access each other’s markets more directly once the necessary process was completed.
The discussions also identified agriculture, water, energy, transport, education and health as priority areas for cooperation.
Ashipala-Musavyi said water was important to Namibia’s agricultural development, while improved energy supply was necessary to support industrialisation.
The two countries are also seeking to strengthen private-sector participation through an Angola-Namibia Business Forum scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the presidential segment of the BNC.
Mbambo said about 95 Namibian businesspeople had expressed interest in participating in the business engagement.
He said the forum would provide an opportunity for businesses to establish networks and identify opportunities in the Angolan market.
“Angola has the population; it has the market. The question is how do we capitalise on that with what we have,” Mbambo said?
The ministerial session took place on Sunday, 18 October, with the presidential segment scheduled for Monday.
In her statement, Ashipala-Musavyi said the strategies and actions agreed upon by ministers would be submitted for consideration by the two heads of state.
She said the countries needed to translate their historical relations into economic benefits for their populations.
The two governments are expected to discuss measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation and advance the implementation of programmes under the commission.
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