By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus

The Chinese Ambassador Zhao Weiping said his country is now the largest source of foreign direct investment for Namibia and the second largest trading partner.

The over US$5 billion (N$92 billion) Husab Uranium mine investment in Namibia is still the largest Chinese investment project in Africa, the ambassador stated.

Weiping revealed this during the China-Namibia Business Networking Reception in Windhoek yesterday.

He also updated there are 56 Chinese companies operating in Namibia, spread across sectors from Chinatown/retailer to construction.

There are around 1,700 Chinese nationals living here, most of them being owners of small businesses of various kinds.

These business owners, Weiping said, have created more than 10,000 jobs for the locals.

As for the Chinese-owned Husab and Rössing Uranium mines, they contribute to about 7% of Namibia’s GDP and Husab Uranium alone has paid N$1.53 billion in tax to the State coffers in 2021, he highlighted.

“These are some of the important indicators of the strength of China-Namibia economic cooperation,” he said.

Weiping said China imports live Namibian oysters and lobsters and started importing Namibian beef since 2019.

“All these Namibian products are very popular in China,” he informed.

He further informed that relevant government authorities of the two countries are in close consultations on China’s importing Namibian deep-sea red crabs, abalone, mutton, grapes, and frozen lobsters and oysters.

Weiping added that there are only a few technical issues involved, and he doesn’t see any political problems.

“I hope relevant agreements could be reached at an early date and the Embassy will provide facilitation in this regard,” he stated.

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, China has provided some development assistance to Namibia, Weiping said, describing the assistance as mutual help and support between friends.

The projects that are currently ongoing include the 2B section of Windhoek’s new airport road which is being constructed with the Chinese government’s grant of N$1 billion.

The expansion and upgrading of four schools in Kavango West and Zambezi regions and the Satellite Data Receiving Ground Station. These projects are being constructed with the support of a Chinese grant of about N$200 million.

He said China is also discussing with the Namibian side some of the new development assistance projects.

He assured that China will pay more attention to the actual needs of Namibia’s social and economic development and do better to deepen bilateral cooperation in all the areas that are priorities for Namibia.

According to Weiping, the China-Namibia relationship is more than an ordinary relationship between two developing countries.

Speaking at the same event, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industrialisation, Sikongo Haihambo said China is one of Namibia’s leading trading partners.

In terms of export, it is the third after Botswana and South Africa, while it is the second after South Africa in terms of import.

The trade involves Namibia exporting more raw materials such as uranium and copper, while getting more finished products. In 2022, the trade between the two countries amounted to N$22 billion.

Haihambo said Chinese investment has played a pivotal role in the Namibian economy, especially the infrastructure development.

“We also believe that Chinese investment must look at avenues to grow the domestic industries by investing in infrastructure to add value to raw material,” he indicated.

He said the country has more Chinese mining companies in the country, especially in granite, lithium and dimensional stones, copper, and rare earth metals mining.

Haihambo challenged China to set up institutions for capacity development in Namibia, to enable the country to add value to its raw materials.

“We challenge the PRC to set up vocational institutes or centres with your expertise focused on the value addition of the minerals,” he said.

The Executive Director said Namibia will continue to strengthen its trade relationship with China, and it will participate in the upcoming China-International Import Export scheduled for November this year. Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na