THE Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) recently conducted business-to-business meetings with local firms as it intensified its push for Zimbabwean companies to use the Namibian port for trade.
WBCG is a public-private partnership established to promote the utilisation of the Walvis Bay Corridors, a network of transport corridors linked to the Port of Walvis Bay. The corridors are the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, the Trans-Caprivi Corridor, the Trans-Cunene Corridor and the Trans-Oranje Corridor.
During its visit from April 22 to 26 this year, WBCG met its local partner Bak Logistics and the Namibian Ports Authority.
The visitors engaged existing and potential clients, including off-takers for metals and minerals, mining houses, fertiliser companies, food and beverage manufacturers and agro-packaging solutions.
The meetings were conducted in Harare, while WBCG sent out a scoping mission to Gweru, Zvishavane and Sandawana Mine.
“The aim of the meetings was to foster strategic partnerships, explore import/export opportunities and reaffirm our commitment to delivering comprehensive end-to-end supply chain solutions,” said WBCG chief executive officer Mbahupu Tijivikua while speaking on the visit.
“During the visit to the Sandawana Mines, the delegation toured one of the largest lithium mines, observe the lithium production process and gain an appreciation for various lithium grades. This experience was crucial in comprehending the transport and logistics dynamics involved in linking these mines to the port of Walvis Bay and our corridors.”
The visit comes as trade between Namibia and Zimbabwe is currently skewed heavily in the latter's favour.
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Last year, Namibia did not feature in the top 20 import source countries for Zimbabwe. However, the former received goods worth nearly US$21 million in exports from the latter, according to official statistics.
Tijivikua said discussions with local firms centred on enhancing trade facilitation services and promoting the efficiency of utilising Namibia for lithium exports.
Namibia’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Nicklaas Kandjii underscored his country's interest in fostering bilateral business exchanges and trade partnerships, highlighting the mining sector as a promising avenue for collaboration.
He also affirmed his readiness to foster investor promotion between Namibia and Zimbabwe, through concerted efforts that encouraged the capitalisation of mutual economic opportunities and the cultivation of a conducive environment for cross- border investment ventures.
Kandjii proposed a subsequent joint trade mission between Namibia and Zimbabwe, akin to the successful initiative conducted in 2021.
“These meetings marked a pivotal moment in fostering collaboration and promoting economic growth in the region,” he said.
Zimbabwe's ambassador to Namibia, Melody Chaurura facilitated the WBCG visit.
