SABC News Online
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
President Thabo Mbeki travels to Windhoek, Namibia this morning. He is expected to co-chair the sixth session of the South Africa-Namibia heads of state economic bilateral forum with Hifi-kepunye Pohamba, his counterpart. The president will be accompanied by three Cabinet ministers.
South Africa has good political and economic relations with Namibia, which gained independence from South Africa 16 years ago.
Pretoria committed to maintaining economic relations
According to the department of foreign affairs, Mbeki's participation in this bilateral forum is within the context of Pretoria's commitment to consolidate economic relations with Windhoek.
Bilateral trade between the two accounts for two thirds of Namibia's total foreign trade. Trade figures show that South Africa is the source of about 84% of Namibia's imports by value, including virtually all commodities with the exception of petroleum products. Food, beverages, machinery and transport equipment are the biggest in the import category.
Namibia's exports to South Africa are estimated at 28% of the country's total exports which consist mainly of live animals, meat, fish and mineral products. The department of foreign affairs says South Africa is Namibia's most important economic partner as Pretoria holds approximately 80% of investments in this country's key industries such as mining, retail, banking and insurance.
Mbeki will be accompanied by Mandisi Mpahlwa, the trade and industry minister, Alec Erwin, the minister of public enterprise, and Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the environmental affairs and tourism minister.
Issues on the agenda include spatial development initiatives such as the Trans-Kalahari highway, Okavango-Upper Zambezi International Tourism and the Ais-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. On the energy front, the two delegations will discuss the Kudu Gas Project and the Western Power Corridor.
South Africa's preparations for the 2010 soccer world cup are also on the agenda. Pretoria hopes that neighbouring countries like Namibia will benefit from event and wants them to start preparing accommodation and sports facilities to host some of the teams prior to the kick-off.