Niël Terblanché
Namibia and Sweden convened the tenth Session of the Namibia-Sweden Bilateral Working Group on Monday to strengthen their longstanding partnership.
Jennely Matundu, Namibia’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Verna Sinimbo, Deputy Minister of Industrialisation and Trade; and Håkan Jevrell, State Secretary of the Swedish Ministry for International Development Cooperation and foreign trade, co-chaired the meeting in Windhoek.
The discussions encompassed a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional, and international issues.
Both parties expressed satisfaction with the robust and amicable relations nurtured over the years, rooted in shared historical, political, economic, social, and cultural ties.
They acknowledged the extensive nature of their cooperation, highlighting sectors such as trade and investment, renewable energy, education, tourism, mining, environment, transport, and information communications.
Reflecting on the foundation of this partnership, Sweden’s support for Namibia’s liberation struggle remains a cornerstone of their relationship.
This historical solidarity has evolved into a multifaceted collaboration aimed at mutual growth and development.
The 9th session of the Namibia-Sweden Working Group, held in Stockholm in June 2019, laid the groundwork for the current discussions.
During that session, both nations deliberated on enhancing cooperation in areas like sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
Leaders stressed the importance of partner-driven collaborations, focusing on pro-poor economic development, environmental sustainability, and the promotion of human rights and democracy.
Building upon these prior commitments, Tuesday’s session delved deeper into strategies to strengthen trade relations.
Namibia and Sweden explored avenues to boost economic diversification and enhance trade capacity, recognizing that sustainable economic growth is pivotal for poverty alleviation.
The leaders also discussed the sustainable use of natural resources, infrastructure development, and increased access to regional and international markets as essential components for a diversified economy.
In the realm of renewable energy, both countries acknowledged the pressing need to address climate change.
They expressed a shared interest in advancing sustainable energy solutions, with a focus on harnessing Namibia’s abundant solar and wind resources.
Collaborative initiatives in this sector aim to promote environmental sustainability while contributing to economic development.
The parties discussed opportunities for academic exchanges and capacity-building programs to enhance educational outcomes in both nations.
Tourism, mining, environment, transport, and information communications were also on the agenda, with both sides recognizing the potential for mutual benefits through shared expertise and resources.
The participants agreed to explore joint ventures and knowledge exchange programs to drive progress in these sectors.
During the tenth session of the Namibia-Sweden Bilateral Working Group, the representatives reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative efforts across various sectors to achieve sustainable development and shared prosperity.
