STAFF WRITER
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says the Commonwealth grouping is a vital cog in creating business synergies, markets and opportunities for Namibia’s developmental plans.
She was speaking at a reception hosted for the blocs Secretary General,Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on Wednesday night by the Ministry of Trade and International Relations.
Botchwey is in Namibia to attend the Commonwealth Trade Mjnisters Meeting themed along
fostering resilience and promoting sustainable energy transition.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the theming of the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting this year aligns with Namibia’s critical economic enablers in the energy and oil and gas sectors.
“These sectors are not only critical for local job creation and economic growth but are also untapped, presenting new trade and investment opportunities for Namibia and the broader
Commonwealth community. However, to achieve this, cross-sector collaboration between the public and private sectors is
required,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Speaking at the reception Botchwey called for an inclusive economic strategy that created opprtibities for all groups in the grouping.
“Resilience means creating space for women entrepreneurs, youth innovators, small businesses, and those in landlocked or small
island states to participate fully in trade and investment,” she said.
She said Commonwealth member states should take advantage of the fact that it is 21 percent cheaper to trade with each other to promote trade.
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