Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA exported goods worth US$473 million, equivalent to N$8.75 billion, to Botswana last year, and imported goods worth US$60.9 million, equivalent to N$1.13 billion, from Botswana during the same period.
This was revealed by Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, the President of Botswana, during the Official Opening of the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAITEX), themed “Efficient Connectivity and Resource Beneficiation for Sustainable Growth in Africa.” The expo featured President Masisi as the guest of honour.
President Masisi highlighted that trade between Namibia and Botswana is mainly centred around diamonds. He revealed that 93% of Botswana’s imports from Namibia were diamonds, while 48% of Botswana’s exports to Namibia were diamonds, with coal and electrical cables making up 10% and 5% respectively.
“Additional notable exports from Botswana to Namibia encompass passenger vehicles and fibre-optic cables,” he said.
President Masisi also mentioned that Namibia has been sourcing livestock vaccines from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) to manage trans-boundary animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease and cattle lung disease.
“This collaboration offers us the opportunity to conduct coordinated Foot and Mouth vaccination campaigns and to ensure ongoing surveillance of Foot and Mouth Disease in both countries,” he said.
President Masisi, however, added that he does not believe that Namibia and Botswana have yet fully explored their bilateral economic potential. He emphasised that there is a need for the two governments to enhance trade and investment in a number of sectors.
“It is imperative for governments to uphold their responsibility in fostering trade and investment by establishing an environment that enables the private sector to flourish. On a bilateral scale, the Trans-Kalahari Railway Line stands out as a crucial project that demands robust pursuit to enhance the transportation of goods between our two nations and the broader SADC region,” he added.
President Masisi also emphasised that there is significant potential for enhanced cooperation between Namibia and Botswana in the areas of animal disease control protocols, range management practices, abattoir and meat hygiene practices, and wildlife conservation strategies.
“Furthermore, both nations provide distinctive tourism experiences and are renowned for their sought-after wildlife safari offerings. By engaging in joint marketing efforts, our countries can extract more value from our tourism endeavours,” he said.
