The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation is to compile a report to Cabinet, outlining specific areas for commercial trade with Cuba.
Minister Peya Mushelenga says this would further make it easier for agencies responsible for trade in both countries to prioritise crucial products and services to promote.
The report to Cabinet is in response to President Nangolo Mbumba’s directive to the officials from the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation to relay information on trade opportunities.
This follows site visits to Cuba’s Special Development Zone for trading purposes and pharmaceutical product manufacturing plants.
“After every visit of the President, my Ministry compiles a report that goes to Cabinet, indicating various areas that specific ministries should attend to, and it is the same thing that will happen; of course, it is for the Ministry of Trade and NIPDB to make follow-ups with the Cuban agency responsible for Foreign Direct Investment and in order also to relay information to Namibian companies that may wish to come and invest in Cuba.”
The affairs of Namibia and Cuba have now been elevated to Cabinet minister level through the newly signed agreement establishing the Inter-Governmental Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.
Currently, the trade exchanges are mainly in human resources, with more than 100 Cuban professionals attached to various ministries and agencies in Namibia.