STAFF WRITER
COMMONWEALTH Secretary General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey,says Namibia has the opportunity to contribute immensely to the trading bloc through its green hydrogen ambitions and strategic location.
Botchwey was speaking in Windhoek on Tuesday at the Theo-Ben Gurirab annual memorial lecture at time Namibia co-hosted the Commonwealth ministerial meeting on Trade for the first time outside the United Kingdom.
The Commonwealth SG called for improved trade within the grouping to improve the standard of living of the more than two billion citizens under the the grouping which used to be dominated by former British colonies.
“Our goal is bold but achievable: to demonstrate that trade and investment within the Commonwealth can transform our economies and sustain the resilience needed for each Commonwealth citizen to enjoy the democratic dividend.
“That requires a partnership with Commonwealth businesses and financing institutions on strategies
to raise incomes and make our 2.7 billion population a consumer market powering
Commonwealth prosperity. It means growing intra-Commonwealth trade to at least N$ 380 trillion (approximatelyUS$2 trillion) by 2030,” Botchwey said.
Currently trade among Commonwealth countries stands at US$888 billion. Botchwey said the grouping must have police’s that ensures that trade works for all — especially our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, women entrepreneurs, and young people. “This is why we are launching the Commonwealth
Investment Network: to match credible projects with capital across our member states.
It’s why we are prioritising trade, finance, and economic resilience in our work and strategy.
And it’s why I will continue to advocate for inclusive, digital-first trade policies that lift our people — not just our numbers. Trade is among the Commonwealth’s greatest strengths – and it underlines our enduring relevance,” Botchwey said.
Speaking at the same occasion Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala -Musavyi said Namibia plans to grow in the digital economy space with abundant critical minerals resources, aspirations in renewable energy, including green hydrogen and nuclear energy.
“These are not abstract concepts; they are concrete opportunities for Namibia to partner, innovate, and grow alongside fellow Commonwealth countries. Furthermore, these have real implications for job creation, climate resilience, and long-term development. I shall be remiss if I do not point out that, the classification of
She said Namibia’s ranking as a higher middle-income country created challenges, especially in accessing soft loans.“ Notwithstanding, Namibia’s participation in frameworks such as the SACUM- UK Free Trade Agreement, Southern African Development Cooperation (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) positions Namibia uniquely at the confluence of regional and global trade.
“While the AfCFTA is primarily a regional initiative led by the African Union (AU), the Commonwealth provides complementary support through various mechanisms, including capacity building, policy advice, facilitation of trade, and promoting intra-Commonwealth cooperation. Our task now is to maximize these linkages through innovation, industrialisation, and strategic investment,”Musavyi said.
She said Namibia is ready to lead and to learn and to contribute to shaping a trade agenda of inclusivity, sustainability m, and resilience. “ We must work together, Commonwealth governments, businesses, academia, and the civil society to remove trade barriers, improve market access, and ensure no member state is left behind, especially our Least Developed Countries and
Small Island Developing States,” she said.
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