Tujoromajo Kasuto
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is in Brussels, Belgium, today and tomorrow for a two-day European Development Day conference to dialogue on the Global Gateway Africa – Europe Investment Package.
The conference is part of the Global Gateway Strategy and includes N$2.5 trillion (€150 billion) investments aimed at supporting infrastructure development in Africa.
Kuukongelwa-Amadhila said that ‘’seeking a better and deeper understanding of the Package, and developing approaches and solutions to ensure that the Package contributes to the development of more diverse, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economies that are also human-centred in their approach. It is critical that we take into account our country’s priorities and needs in everything we do. We support the Package’s main goals, which are to increase public and private investment and build on existing initiatives and partnerships’’.
She said that investment in energy, including renewable hydrogen and digital infrastructure, would be of particular interest to many of the countries.
‘’We recognize the impact of climate change on our countries and economies, as well as the need for a transition to renewable energy sources. As stated in the Summit outcome, we wish to reiterate the need for a fair, just, and equitable energy transition, taking into account the specific and diverse orientations of our countries in terms of access to electricity,’’ she said.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila emphasised the importance of this, particularly with COVID-19 affecting the economic stability and recovery of nations already ravaged by drought, heat waves, floods, and other climatic conditions.
‘’Covi-19 has had a devastating impact on the global economy and while nation states were on a path of recovery following two years of the worst global pandemic in recent history, oil and food prices were on the upward trend since the beginning of 2022,’’ she added.
The European Development Days (EDD) are Europe’s leading forum on international partnerships organised by the European Commission.
This edition of the EU Development Days comes after the 6th European Union – African Union Summit that was held in February this year where the Heads of State and Government met to agree on a joint vision for the two Unions in a renewed partnership.
The European Commission organises the European Development Days (EDD), Europe’s leading forum on international partnerships.
The forum brings together key actors to share ideas and experiences in order to inspire new
partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
The theme of the 15th edition is ‘Global Gateway: Creating Long-Term Partnerships for a
Connected World’. The goal is to improve smart, clean, and secure connections in digital, energy, and transportation, as well as to strengthen health, education, and research systems around the world.
The Prime Minister was one of the speakers at this morning’s opening ceremony in Brussels.
Senior government officials from the National Planning Commission, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board are accompanying the Prime Minister to the event.
The Prime Minister is expected to participate in two panel discussions in Brussels, one on ‘Sustainable Finance at the Heart of Global Gateway’s and another on ‘The Global Gateway in Africa’.
