Chinese delegation in Erongo

Officials from two Chinese companies visited Swakopmund and Walvis Bay earlier in February to obtain first-hand knowledge of business conditions and investment opportunities in these two towns.
The visit was facilitated by the Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, H.E. Xin Shunkang on invitation of the chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council, Cllr Hafeni Ndemula.  The Chinese delegation was met at the Walvis Bay Airport by the Erongo Governor, Hon Cleophas Mutjavikua.
Welcoming his guests, Mutjavikua confirmed the regional government’s commitment to development of the region with the objective to boost employment and reduce poverty.

Based on the relationship between Namibia and China, the Erongo Regional Council said it has embarked on this venture to strengthen the ties with the Chinese for possible future cooperation in areas of mutual interest, amongst others, education, hospitality, recreational facilities and infrastructure development.
The focus of two of the visitors, Ms Yu Xiaofeng, general manager of Sogecoa Zambia Limited, and Mr Ren Fu Li, Vice President of Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co. LTD is mainly in the area of infrastructure development and a visit to Namport gave them a view of the many opportunities created by the expansion of the port infrastructure.
The current expansion of the port of Walvis Bay grabbed their attention and they were particularly interested in future expansion plans. In addition to large infrastructure projects, they also expressed their interest in smaller projects such as the Erongo Quarry and the Small Scale Miners project.
Councillors, delegates from local authorities in the region and management members from the Erongo Regional Council had the opportunity to inform the Chinese delegation of various other projects suitable to consider within the region.
Ambassador Shunkang and Ms. Yu Xiaofeng showed a keen interest in the mining of semi-precious stones after a visit to the Crystal Gallery. They were impressed by the high quality of these stones. The Ambassador remarked that semi-precious stones are higher in demand than diamonds in China and that it will sell at double the local price in his home country. He said the cutting and manufacturing process before exporting is adding huge value and that the small miners should also benefit from joint projects between the Erongo region and China.