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Send Chinese shipments through Walvis

From the left are Victor Ashikoto (Namport ICT Executive), Bisey Uirab (Namport CEO), Dr. Henry Chan (Namibian Honorary  Consul to Hong Kong), Charity Mwiya (NCCI Member Services Manager), Johny Smith (CEO of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group), Elias Mwenyo (Namport Sales & Services Manager) during business meetings in Hong Kong.

From the left are Victor Ashikoto (Namport ICT Executive), Bisey Uirab (Namport CEO), Dr. Henry Chan (Namibian Honorary Consul to Hong Kong), Charity Mwiya (NCCI Member Services Manager), Johny Smith (CEO of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group), Elias Mwenyo (Namport Sales & Services Manager) during business meetings in Hong Kong.

Representatives from Namport, the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) and the Namibian Chamber of Commerce & Industry undertook a business mission to Asia recently, to establish external partnerships to promote the Ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz as well as the corridors linked to these ports.
The Corridor Group presented the option of Namibia becoming a Logistics Hub at the Africa-Singapore business forum which took place on 27 and 28 August. Singapore is currently looking at extending its external economy within the African continent.
This biennial business forum focuses on the development of the African economy, the need for Africa to improve its infrastructure and general connectivity to the world markets. The conference noted that 102 million jobs need to be created in Africa over the next decade.
In recent years, there has been a shift from the traditional Africa, Europe and America trading, to other foreign investment flowing from Asia. Singapore, which is a small island, has transformed itself from a third world, to a first world country in less than 50 years.
“Singapore, Hong Kong and areas in China were visited by the group from 25 August to 06 September 2014. The promotional and marketing thrust is a collaborative effort between the Corridor Group, Namport and the NCCI,” the delegation said upon return.

The delegation visited various cities in China such as Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong where discussions were held with several manufacturers and logistics companies that are currently exporting to the Southern African region.
“Awareness has therefore been created with these companies to use the Port of Walvis Bay as an alternative trade route for imports and exports between China and Southern Africa. A number of meetings were facilitated by the NCCI with the assistance of its sister organisations in China, i.e. the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the China-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CAJCCI) as well as the Namibian Embassy in China.
Commenting on the success of the trip, Corridor Group CEO, Johny Smith said, “This exploratory visit has given us an idea how to focus on future opportunities of trade and logistics with the Asian region and how we should progress rom here to better market Namibia as an alternative trade route for China.”

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