The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT) is set to develop 36 hectares of land donated by the governments of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Trade and Industrial Estates, which will serve as a hub for the promotion and trading of Namibian goods and services in the West and Central African markets.
According to Trade ministry’s Spokesperson Elijah Mukubonda, the estates will be used for the export of Namibian meat and meat products to Angola and DRC, among other products like fish and fish products, beer and beverages, dairy products, cereals and other agro and industrial products.
“The availed land to the Namibian Government is for purposes of also constructing cold and dry facilities for the promotion and trading of Namibian products & services. In addition, the development intensifies the bilateral co-operation between Namibia and the Congos in the area of trade and investment, as well as enhancing and strengthening the south-south cooperation,” said Mukubonda.
Mukubonda also revealed that the land in Pointe-Noire, Congo, is a three-hectare site that has been donated by the Congolese government for an open-ended period with no financial compensation.
“In Pointe-Noire, the land is located on the Portland at the outskirt of town along the ocean and is opposite Congo’s Oil Refinery Plant compound,” he said.
The site in Lubumbashi, DRC, has secure title deeds and consists of 36 hectares, situated in Shinga Village in the Kipushi District, Katanga Province.
However, he said ministry faces several hurdles, including language barriers and financial constraints, as French is an official language in both countries and doing business there can be expensive due to the use of US dollars.
” The land is situated in Shinga Village in the Kipushi District, Katanga Province, 26 Km from Lubumbashi and 90 Km from the borders between the DRC and the Republic of Zambia, along the Kasumbalesa Road,” Mukubonda said.
“Doing business in the Congos could be profitable, however, there are challenges that have to be addressed, such as language barriers, bureaucracy and huge financial costs. French is an official language spoken in the two Congos and that makes it difficult for the English-speaking countries to communicate without an interpreter.”
Despite these challenges, the ministry is committed to investing in the clearing of the sites, construction of the estates, and the connection of utilities such as electricity and water, as well as employee salaries and general maintenance.
“The fruition of this project, according to Trade ministry, will unlock a market for northern farmers and provide an income stream for the government through exports,” said Mukubonda. If successful, this project could help to deepen trade and investment ties between Namibia and the Congos, as well as further promote south-south cooperation.
