A large contingent of United States-based businesses that was in Namibia to explore investment and commercial opportunities has concluded its visit after meeting with Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, other government leaders and local businesses.
The delegation of over a dozen U.S. business representatives was the largest yet to come to Namibia, according to the US Embassy.
The two-days of senior-level meetings introduced the U.S. firms, including BL Harbert, Black & Veach, Sun Africa, Fluor, and business groups from General Electric that focus on power, healthcare, and renewables to decision makers, potential partners, and future opportunities in the construction, energy, and health industries.
Akunna Cook, Deputy Assistant Secretary in State Department’s Africa Bureau, who led the delegation said the visit was aimed at strengthening business, trade, and investment relationships between the two countries.
“That relationship has grown substantially in the recent past, notably as Namibia began exporting beef, charcoal, and other products to the United States. There is tremendous potential in Namibia’s people and in its economy, especially in renewable energies,” said Cook.
“We’ve heard the Namibian government’s interest in more engagement with U.S. firms, which led to this delegation’s visit to Namibia. American companies offer the world’s best products and services, create jobs, transfer skills to employees, and value transparency and equity.”
On Tuesday, Cook and U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jessica Long hosted a networking event to link Namibian entrepreneurs to the United States government’s TradeHub.
The TradeHub works with businesses in Namibia to scale up and begin exporting to South Africa and the United States.
In addition to the Vice President, the delegation also met with the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministers of Health, and Trade Industrialization and SME Development, the Ministries of Finance and of Mines and Energy, the President’s Special Economic Advisor and Green Hydrogen Commissioner, the NIPDB, and NamPower.
Cook’s delegation to Namibia also included representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Power Africa, as well as the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa.
