Namibia, Tanzania deepen cooperation

By Business Reporter

THE Second Session of the Namibia – Tanzania Joint Commission for Cooperation was held from 29 November to 2nd December 2019, in Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.

It was co-chaired by Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (MP), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and Professor Palamagamba John Aidan Mwaluko Kabudi (MP), Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The joint commission comes after a State visit to the Republic of Namibia, by Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, at the kind invitation of Dr.

Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, from 27th-28th May, 2019.

During that visit, the two Heads of State and Government directed for the convening of the Namibia – Tanzania Joint Commission for Cooperation.

The Second Session of the Namibia – Tanzania Joint Commission emphasized the historical fraternal relations and growing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The Commission commended the positive atmosphere that characterized the discussions and applauded the outcome of the discussions that were held between the delegations of the two countries.

The Commission discussed a number of bilateral issues, with particular emphasis on trade and investment. It reviewed implementation of the previous decisions and agreements and welcomed progress made in bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of agriculture, water and rural development, higher education, health, fisheries and aqua culture.

In consolidating bilateral relations and deepening bilateral cooperation, the Commission agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of diplomacy and security, immigration, gender equality, youth development, trade and investment, transport, aviation, mining and energy, environment and natural resource management.

The Commission appreciated the ongoing efforts to promote cooperation between the private sectors in both countries, in order to harness opportunities from the SADC regional integration and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The two Ministers signed three Memoranda of Understanding in the areas of Tourism; Youth Development and Culture; and Arts and Sports.

During the Commission, the United Republic of Tanzania announced the opening of its High Commission in Windhoek, in December 2019.

The Commission agreed to convene its 3rd Session in Windhoek in 2021, to be preceded by a mid – term review in 2020.

The two Ministers renewed their commitment to ensure full implementation of bilateral agreements by establishing a time-bound monitoring and evaluation mechanism.