Niël Terblanché
The spirit of mutual cooperation and collaboration between South Africa and Namibia is set to shine through this week.
On 13 October 2023, President Hage Geingob of the Republic of Namibia will welcome his South African counterpart, President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, for the third Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC).
The session, co-chaired by both presidents, follows an agreement reached during President Geingob’s State Visit to South Africa on 20 April 2023.
Established in 2012, the BNC has since been a pivotal forum to boost bilateral ties, coordinate diplomatic stances, and discuss shared concerns at both regional and global platforms.
Economic ties between the nations have shown a promising upsurge. A notable 13.5 percent growth was recorded in 2022, with the total trade volume touching an impressive N$67.1 billion, up from N$59.1 billion in 2021.
Namibian exports to South Africa are increasingly diverse and competitive, reflecting product quality and innovation that meets market demand. South Africa, in return, remains pivotal for Namibian products to penetrate regional and global markets, while also supplying Namibia with critical goods, services, and resources.
The agenda for the third Session of the BNC includes a comprehensive review of cooperation in various sectors like Diplomatic and Legal, Economic, Social, and Defence and Security.
The commission will also evaluate progress on implementing BNC decisions to bolster the friendship between the two nations.
Preceding the presidential segment is the Ministerial segment, co-chaired by Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and her South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor.
An added highlight on 13 October will be the Namibia-South Africa Business Forum, organized alongside the Bi-National Commission.
Both presidents are slated to address the gathering, underscoring the commitment to foster robust business-to-business exchanges.
