Given the shared geology and geographical proximity between South Africa and Namibia, there’s a compelling case for nearer collaboration in exploration, infrastructure improvement, expertise improvement and funding promotion.
This was famous by President Cyril Ramaphosa throughout the fourth session of the South Africa-Namibia Binational Fee (BNC) on July 17, co-chaired by Ramaphosa and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Because the world more and more seemed to Africa for the essential minerals, power sources, agricultural potential and strategic partnerships that will form the industries of the long run, Ramaphosa argued that Africa had change into central to the way forward for the worldwide economic system.
“South Africa and Namibia have each the chance and the accountability to make sure that our pure endowments change into engines of industrialisation, innovation, expertise improvement and first rate work,” he stated.
Therefore, he emphasised the significance of constructing regional worth chains and of processing, refining, manufacturing and innovating in Southern Africa, creating worth for native economies.
“There are boundless alternatives earlier than us,” the President stated, highlighting that the Orange basin was rising as one of many world’s most promising new power frontiers.
He argued that the Orange basin’s improvement presents each international locations with a chance to ascertain an built-in regional power economic system encompassing exploration, engineering, refining, petrochemicals, logistics, maritime companies and superior manufacturing.
Shifting on to inexperienced hydrogen, Ramaphosa stated South Africa’s Boegoebaai deepwater port and Inexperienced Hydrogen Improvement Programme additionally current an essential alternative for collaboration in constructing a globally aggressive inexperienced industrial hall linking the 2 international locations.
In mining, he famous that Namibia’s increasing portfolio of essential minerals introduced alternatives for joint exploration, geological mapping, scientific analysis and downstream beneficiation, including that finalising the memorandum of understanding between Namibia and South Africa on geology and mining would supply an essential framework for this work.
He thus argued that the respective geoscience councils in each international locations ought to work intently collectively in enterprise joint scientific assessments and unlocking new funding alternatives.
Furthermore, Ramaphosa additionally highlighted the significance of commerce and funding within the relationship between Namibia and South Africa.
“South Africa welcomes the rising presence of South African firms investing in Namibia and equally encourages higher Namibian funding into South Africa.
“We must always actively encourage partnerships between our non-public sectors, improvement finance establishments and State-owned enterprises. Collectively, we will establish bankable initiatives in infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, renewable power and digital applied sciences,” Ramaphosa stated.
The president argued that eradicating pointless limitations to commerce, bettering border effectivity and strengthening transport corridors could be important in realising the total potential of the African Continental Free Commerce Space.
He added that throughout the Southern African Customs Union, the Southern African Improvement Neighborhood and the African Union (AU), South Africa and Namibia remained steadfast in advancing regional integration and the aspirations of the AU’s Agenda 2063.
Ramaphosa additionally acknowledged the problem of migration as a shared continental problem requiring shared continental options.
“South Africa stays dedicated to implementing its immigration legal guidelines firmly, pretty and persistently, whereas upholding the constitutional values and human dignity that outline our democracy.
“We consider that sustained dialogue, enhanced border cooperation, orderly labour mobility and inclusive financial improvement stay the simplest long-term responses to migration pressures throughout our continent,” he stated.
