NNN calls for investment, skills transfer

MOSCOW — President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia is seeking investment in agriculture, energy, technology and mineral processing as the country works towards economic independence and greater benefits from its natural resources.

Speaking in an interview in Moscow during the Third Russia-Africa Summit, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia’s longstanding relationship with Russia should be strengthened through trade and investment.

She said Namibia’s independence struggle was fought to ensure that its people could benefit from their natural resources.

“The main purpose of this summit is really to build in that longstanding foundation, which is more political, for us now to move into economic, with particular reference to trade and investment,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the summit focused on economic transformation, value addition and the processing of natural resources.

She said African countries should industrialise so that their people could benefit from their resources and participate equally in global development.

The Head of State identified agriculture, energy and technology as key sectors for Namibia’s economic development.

She said agriculture required scientific knowledge, including an understanding of soil, fertilisers and seeds.

“When you are talking about agriculture, you need people who understand what is required in agriculture. Because agriculture is a highly scientific economic sector,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia also needs energy to support industrialisation and the processing of minerals.

“Namibia is a mineral-based country. And we talked about value addition. Value addition, you can only do it in industries,” she said.

She said technology was also necessary for transforming the economy.

The President said Namibia was looking at cooperation with Russia in these areas, including training opportunities.

During a visit to an exhibition in Moscow, she said she had seen areas where Namibia could benefit from Russian expertise.

“I see that there is a lot that we can really get from here, more particularly when they are offering the training,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia was inviting foreign investors to establish businesses in the country but wanted Namibians to participate in those investments.

She said foreign companies should find Namibian partners and ensure that local partners were involved in management and decision-making.

“When you are coming to invest, we are talking about joint ventures,” she said.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah said training was necessary to enable Namibians to take over responsibilities and move into other sectors of the economy.

She said the government was paying special attention to skills transfer.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also said African countries need to work together when negotiating with multinational companies.

She said countries should agree on common conditions for investors instead of negotiating separately.

“If we allow that each one, you negotiate your terms, definitely our continent will continue to languish in poverty,” she said.

The President said Namibia was also focusing on youth empowerment.

She said her studies in Moscow during the liberation struggle had influenced her commitment to young people.

Nandi-Ndaitwah studied at the Lenin Higher Komsomol School in Moscow and said the experience had shaped her understanding of youth development.

She said her government had introduced measures to support young people, including subsidising higher education at public and private universities.

She also referred to the establishment of the Youth Development Fund to assist young Namibian innovators and entrepreneurs.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said young people had an important role to play in the country’s economic development.

The President said Namibia’s priorities included education, sports, the creative industry and youth empowerment.

She said the country needs people with the necessary skills to develop its economy.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also spoke about Namibia’s position on international sanctions, saying disputes should be resolved through negotiations.

She said Namibia’s Constitution guided the country’s approach to resolving international conflicts.

“Our Constitution is to say any conflict, any tension, any problem must be solved through negotiations,” she said.

The President said Namibia continued to maintain bilateral relations with Western countries despite its opposition to sanctions against countries such as Cuba, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

She said the United Nations should respect the sovereignty of member states.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Russia had supported African countries during colonial rule and continued to maintain relations with the continent.

She said Namibia was seeking to strengthen economic cooperation with Russia while ensuring that the country’s people benefited from investment and natural resources.

– [email protected]

The post NNN calls for investment, skills transfer appeared first on New Era.