Delegation of the European Union visits Namibia

Mr Koen Vervaeke, Director of the European External Action Service (EEAS) for the Horn of Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean is visiting Namibia from 16 to 17 of this month.
He is here to deliver an invitation to His Excellence President Hifikepunye Pohamba to participate in the upcoming EU-Africa Summit that will be held in Brussels from 2-3 April 2014.
The Director is furthermore expected to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade Minister and other senior Government officials, representatives from Civil Society as well as representatives from key economic sectors, such as the agriculture and mining sectors.
Mr Koen Vervaeke is responsible for the coherence of European Union action in the Region and the programming of EU’s financial cooperation.
The theme of the Summit is “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace”, this will be a unique opportunity to renew momentum of this continental partnership and discussions will focus on precursors of growth and enablers for jobs to grow.

Top business people, as well as representative of small businesses from both continents will furthermore be invited to a Business Forum on the eve of the Summit to discuss ways of improving the investment and business climate in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region and to raise the profile of doing business in Africa.
President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has emphasised that it is an increasingly interdependent world therefore, Africa and Europe’s future are closely interlinked.
The European Union and the African Union must work together not just to provide security, but to improve the day-to-day lives of all citizens.
The Strategic Partnership between Africa and the EU pursues common objectives and aims to expand the political dialogue and concrete operation into new areas of shared interest.
80 Head of States and Government from Africa and Europe adopted the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) at the Summit in Lisbon in 2007, where both sides agreed to pursue common interests and strategic objectives. The JAES outlines a long-term shared vision of the future of Africa-EU relations in a globalised world.