Namibia and Cuba strengthen economic ties

Namibia and Cuba strengthen economic ties
November 2, 2015

Windhoek – Namibia cemented its economic relations with Cuba last week
when the two countries established a joint working group to promote and
strengthen trade and commercial cooperation.

With the establishment of the Namibia-Cuba Joint Working Group (JWG),
the two countries aim to promote and build cooperation between them.

On top of the list is accelerating three projects in the manufacturing
sector, which are establishing a pharmaceutical plant in Namibia,
capacity building and renewable energy.

The Namibian Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation,
Dr Peya Mushelenga said following the visit to Namibia by Cuban
Vice-Minister of Trade and Foreign Investment, Ileana Nuñez Mordoche,
Windhoek would be pursuing value addition in the manufacturing sector to
increase the country's manufacturing capability and develop renewable
energy given the energy deficit in the country.

"We therefore will work with our Cuban counterparts to source Cuban
technological expertise in efforts to industrialise and bring skills to
the manufacturing sector," Mushelenga said.

Mordoche was on a five-day visit to Namibia from October 20-25, during
which she paid a courtesy call on the President Hage Geingob, the Deputy
Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, Piet van der
Walt, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and visited
meat producer Hartlief and Namibia Breweries.

The Cuban Vice-Minister's visit to Namibia followed President Geingob's
visit to the South American country last month.

In addition to the economic cooperation, the two countries have also
agreed to send 750 Namibian students to Cuba over the next three years
to study medicine, with the first group expected to depart at the end of
November 2015.

Cuban-Namibian relations date back to the Namibian struggle for
independence when Cuba politically, militarily and diplomatically
supported the Namibian liberation movement and now ruling party, SWAPO
against apartheid South Africa.

Since independence, Namibia and Cuba have held joint meetings for
economic, scientific-technical and commercial cooperation. In 2005, it
was reported that 1,460 Cuban professionals had worked in Namibia.

Source: Namibia and Cuba strengthen economic ties -
http://southernafrican.news/2015/11/02/namibia-and-cuba-strengthen-economic-ties/