South Africa calls for more economic cooperation with Namibia
At the 3rd South Africa-Namibia Bi-National Commission Business Forum, the President of South Africa identified the leather value chain as one of the areas that could benefit from a greater cooperation between the two countries.
“Instead of exporting raw hides and skins to other parts of the world, let us use our resources and capabilities to build a strong regional value-chain”, he said. “The hides can be processed through tanneries and then made into footwear, handbags, leather clothing and other products”, he emphasised.
“By working together, we can identify commercially viable projects that are consistent with our policy frameworks and that have high levels of regional content”, urged Ramaphosa, welcoming the decision taken at the Forum to ask the trade and industry ministers of both countries to identify and explore areas of cooperation that could enable the development of cross-border industrial and automotive value chains.
In the end, South Africa and Namibia have committed to deepen cooperation to attract private sector investment in agreed areas of cooperation, such as the exploration of critical minerals and agricultural raw materials, as well as the development of their green hydrogen strategy. In addition, it was agreed to set up a South Africa-Namibia Business Council to serve as a public-private sector platform for coordinated and concerted action.
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