The Namibian and Angolan Joint Trade Committee (JTC) said it would engage in talks to find a long-term solution on the current illicit cross border fuel trade between the two countries.
Recently, there has been an increase in this illegal act, particularly in the northern part of Namibia where fuel smugglers have been reported to trade freely.
In an interview with the media on Wednesday, Executive Director in the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, Sikongo Haihambo said the two countries would eventually want to see African resources benefiting its citizens.
Haihambo was briefing the media on the discussions and outcomes of the JTC meeting which concluded here on Wednesday.
“We have obtained clarification on the Namibian side and how the situation of illicit fuel trade is currently affecting existing businesses and we have acknowledged that that is the reality on our side. The Angolans also took note of that and we are going to work towards harmonising and coming up with a solution and also to stem the wave that is on the increase with regards to this issue,” Haihambo noted.
He added that although there is no silver bullet yet, the two are determined to find a solution that wold be beneficial to both countries.
The JTC also discussed the identification of products which are to be traded between the two countries, a process which according to Haihambo is tedious but necessary.
Haihambo said the traded products are currently limited between the two countries – only services such as tourism and medical services, salt and cotton are being traded, while the rest of the products are traded on an informal basis.
“We would want to see an expansion on these product lines and then increase and accommodate as many traders and products as possible,” he said.
He added that it is not just a matter of having to export to Angola; Namibia would also like to import from its neighbour “seeing as Angola is a very wealthy country”.
The ED expressed satisfaction with the fact that Angola is currently in the process of finalising the African Continental Free Trade Area protocol, which would be beneficial for both countries to enhance trade on much more favourable terms.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
