President Hage Geingob has held a meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Geingob discussed bilateral ties between the two countries and their shared desire to explore new partnership opportunities that will further strengthen bridges of cooperation between Africa and the Gulf region and increase the volumes of trade and investment.
The meeting, which was held at the Namibia Pavilion, also explored new avenues to share expertise across various sectors.
Sheikh Mohammed and President Geingob then took a tour of the Namibia Pavilion, which highlights the country’s potential to generate sufficient and sustainable energy for both domestic consumption and export, as well as the various investment opportunities it offers. Sheikh Mohammed was briefed about the country’s vast open spaces, abundant and diverse biodiversity and wildlife, rich cultural diversities and valuable traditional knowledge.
The President’s meeting comes after he addressed The Namibia Investment Summit held at the Grant Hyatt Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which was held under the theme: “Namibia, Advancing Sustainable Investment for a Diversified, Export-driven Economy.”
In his address, Geingob said the Summit’s objectives underlined Namibia’s national drive to alleviate poverty and inequality by building inclusive economic development and growth through investment.
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) Chairperson and CEO Nangula Uaandja who also serves as Commissioner General of the Namibian Pavilion at the expo, said Namibia’s objective to participate at the Expo 2020 Dubai is to promote the country as a preferred investment and tourism destination.
Addressing potential investors, Uaandja said the Summit was an extension of the Namibian Pavilion’s strategies to brand and position Namibia globally by promoting sectors with potential to spur socio-economic development for a private sector-led economic growth.
The Summit, organised by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) in partnership with various public and private entities, was hosted on the margins of the Expo 2020 Dubai to highlight growth and investment prospects within the key economic sectors of renewable energy including the Green Hydrogen development; agribusiness by propelling agritech and high value supply chains to diversify exports; Tourism post-Covid-19 recovery plan; infrastructure, logistics and transport; as well as mineral beneficiation and mining-related industries.
The day-long event, concluded with business-to-business and business-to-government meetings aimed at fostering strategic partnerships between public and private sectors for inclusive development.
The meetings were preceded by the signing of the Namibia-Germany Bilateral Air Service Agreement and an MoU between the Dubai College of Tourism, Namibia University of Science and Technology and Namibia Training Authority.
