Meatco’s first consignment of Namibian beef from the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) has arrived at Tema port in Accra- Ghana.
The shipment, which consists of 14 tonnes of beef from Meatco’s Katima Mulilo Abattoir, is being imported by the Abanga Farms and Food Systems, a Ghanaian company which has signed a contract with Meatco as a sole distributor.
“This is the first time that the Namibian beef is entering the Ghanaian market.This achievement is a significant boost for bilateral trade between Namibia and Ghana and a contribution to the enhancement of intra -African trade,” Penda Naanda, Executive Director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.
The Ghanaian company is targeting to also distribute the beef in West Africa.
The development comes as Meatco is currently scouting for beef export markets for farmers from the Northern Communal Areas (NCA).
The NCA, which comprises of Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana and Kunene regions, is a livestock-rich part of Namibia with approximately 1.6 million cattle representing 64% of the national cattle herd estimated to be at 2.5 million.
The beef processor which is seeking Halaal certification, is also targeting South East Asia markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia as potential markets, with strategic partners having visited the Meatco facilities to ascertain the viability of exporting Namibian beef into Asia.
