President Geingob (centre) interacting with Kirumira (left), his wife Namara
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Namibian President, Dr. Hage Gottfried Geingob, has extended an invitation to Ugandan entrepreneurs to tap into the business prospects available in Namibia. The call came during a meeting with Namibian consul to Uganda, Godfrey Kirumira, on the sidelines of a week-long conference for heads of diplomatic missions and honorary consuls in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.
The conference, held under the theme “Pursuing Namibia’s Economic Diplomacy for Development and Prosperity,” concluded over the weekend. Kirumira, appointed as Namibia’s consul to Uganda in April this year, was tasked by President Geingob to coordinate trade relations between the two countries.
President Geingob expressed the hope that fostering stronger economic ties would lead to mutual development for both nations. In a statement, he urged Kirumira to ensure effective coordination, stating, “This will enable the citizens in both countries to enjoy the fruits of development that will accrue from the relations between our two sister states.”
Kirumira, during discussions, highlighted Namibia’s notable achievements in the agricultural sector and predicted that the country would be competitive with many European nations within the next five years. He assured Ugandan business persons that he would facilitate connections with Zambian authorities and entrepreneurs to facilitate business ventures in Namibia.
“Starting next year, I will be taking Ugandan business persons to Namibia to explore opportunities there,” Kirumira affirmed, emphasizing the strength of Namibia’s currency, the rand, which is almost as robust as the dollar.
Following the conference, the heads of diplomatic missions and honorary consuls were hosted at a dinner at State House in Windhoek. Kirumira, accompanied by his wife, Grace Namara, former Lyantonde Woman Member of Parliament, took the opportunity to visit various Namibian institutions and organizations.
Among the institutions visited were Namibia Desert Diamonds, Meat Corporation of Namibia, Namibia Ports Authority, Merlus Seafood Processors, Dinapama Manufacturing and Supplies, and the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Additionally, Kirumira paid a courtesy call to Namibian Deputy Premier and Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Notably, the Namibian High Commissioner in charge of East Africa, Lebbius Tangeni Tobias, had previously encouraged Ugandan fruit farmers to explore the Namibian market. Namibia, with a population of about 2.57 million people, relies significantly on mining, contributing 25% to the country’s income.
The nation is a major exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa, producing diamonds, uranium, copper, magnesium, zinc, silver, gold, lead, semi-precious stones, and industrial minerals. Namibia shares borders with Zambia, Angola, Botswana, and South Africa and has access to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
