Business: China and Nam should win

As much as government is increasingly and aggressively looking for prosperous export markets for local products, the trade relations between Namibia and China should be mutually beneficial.

“The trade business between Namibia and China should not be one- way traffic. Namibians must sell to the Chinese and Chinese should sell to Namibians to benefit [both] countries,” the minister of industrialisation, trade and SME development, Tjekero Tweya, said on Friday.

Tweya spoke at the Namibia-China Business Forum in Windhoek, organised by Namibia Investment Centre and China Council of the Promotion of International Trade through the Embassy of China in Namibia.

Tweya also criticised “some Namibians” who are complaining about Chinese nationals flocking to the country. Some Chinese are coming here as tourists and investors, something government is promoting in order to create employment opportunities that the country desperately needs, he said.

“When investors or tourists come we complain, when they don't come we complain again. Namibians, what do you want? Investors are not job grabbers nor seekers, they are job creators so let us welcome them because they made time to come to us, leaving their lucrative businesses behind to give us opportunities that the country desperately needs,” said Tweya.



Trade

Referring to trade, Tweya said a classical example is the breakthrough initiative between the two countries that allows Namibia to export its premium beef products.

“It is therefore imperative and probably the most opportune time for Namibian businesses to increase dialogue and business to business engagements to show your Chinese counterparts what more Namibia can offer the people of China,” he said.

The latest figures of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) show China has claimed the top spot for third consecutive time as Namibia's export destination in the first three months of 2019.

In addition, Namibia has recorded a trade surplus with the super power for the sixth consecutive quarter.

Copper, zinc and ores – but especially copper – drive China's insatiable appetite for imports from Namibia.



Business

It is logical and beneficial to attract more investment from the world's second largest economy, Parthiva Thaker, a managing member of the local company, Shivali Investments and Consulting, told Xinhua at the event.

Noting that many Namibian businesses could not attend big Chinese forums overseas, Thaker welcomed similar platforms like Friday's forum on which local businesses have the opportunity to directly interact with potential Chinese investors.

“Some of our small private companies are raring to attract more Chinese tourists, but due to a lack of platforms to engage the Chinese investors face to face, we tend to have stunted growth,” said David Endjala, a participant from the tourism and hospitality sector.

Endjala said his company is ready for Chinese investors and that he hopes his business could expand and branch out into other sectors like manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture.

Friday's forum has opened more links and business opportunities, said Leefa Munashimue, administrator of fishing company Uukumwe Youth Empowerment Consortium.

“Our company is looking for machinery for our fishing venture. We would like to process and pack and export our products as finished goods, which adds value and creates employment,” Munashimue said.

“If we get the Chinese investors with their vast resources and expertise on board, they can assist the value chain in our sector,” she added.

The deputy general manager of China Machinery Engineering Corporation, Guo Qun, said Namibia is an important cooperation partner to China in Africa because both countries have the same developmental strategies, with the latter ready to strengthen the existing bilateral relations.– Own report/Nampa/Xinhua