President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi announced that Botswana Oil has initiated discussions with the Namibia Petroleum Corporation to explore the possibility of establishing shared oil storage facilities in Walvis Bay.
While officially opening the Swakopmund International Trade Expo in Namibia yesterday, President Masisi mentioned that the discussions also included joint fuel transportation and coordinated approaches to sourcing oil from Angola. He added that both countries had been offered an equity stake in Angolas oil refinery.
He emphasized the importance of further collaborations in the energy sector between the two countries.
Dr. Masisi praised Namibia for its significant achievements since independence and its seamless and democratic transfer of political power. He highlighted Namibia's emergence as a key hub for oil exploration and green hydrogen development, which is set to elevate the country's economic prosperity to new heights.
He acknowledged the expo's role in hosting business seminars on topics relevant to the business community and exploring new business opportunities. Appreciating the organizers, President Masisi noted their achievements since 2012 and mentioned that the expo, led by the private sector, aimed to create wealth for the country and promote trade and investment.
He stressed the need to allocate more resources to the expo to enhance intra-Africa trade under the African Free Trade Protocol. He pointed out that African nations were working to dispel the misconception that they do not trade sufficiently among themselves.
Noting that intra-Africa trade currently stands at 15 percent, he saw significant room for improvement. He mentioned that SADC leaders had pledged to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of people, goods, and capital across countries to intensify trade within the continent.
President Masisi expressed confidence that the exchange of information during the expo would bridge the information gap and motivate private companies to achieve unprecedented levels of business expansion. He hoped that Namibian enterprises would collaborate with their Botswana counterparts to increase their market share, highlighting the historical and cultural bond between the two countries.
He added that the intimate partnership and solidarity between Botswana and Namibia stemmed from a shared commitment to freedom and dignity. He suggested that this special relationship should be strengthened through bilateral agreements in sectors such as agriculture, water, defense and security, and transportation and logistics.
The President also mentioned that the dry port facility in Walvis Bay and the recent accord enabling citizens of both countries to cross each others borders using their identity cards align with the SADC protocol on the facilitation of movement of persons.
He encouraged both countries to seize their comparative advantages and fully tap into the opportunities presented by their bilateral relations. He noted that the bilateral relations were primarily focused on the diamond sector but emphasized that much more could be done.
He pointed out that Namibia was procuring vaccines from Botswana for livestock diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease and lung disease and suggested that the same could be extended to vaccines for human diseases.
He highlighted the importance of the envisioned Trans-Kalahari railway line for enhancing the transportation of goods between the two nations and the SADC region. He added that there were opportunities for collaboration and cooperation in various sectors, including animal disease protocols, tourism, diamond trading, and wildlife conservation.
President Masisi also noted that the two countries had approved the establishment of a one-stop border post at Mamuno.
