Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 24 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Namibia may expand cooperation in agriculture, production sector, and education. Prime Minister of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov made the statement as he met with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Minsk on 24 October, BelTA has learned.

Andrei Kobyakov said: “Although Belarus-Namibia trade and economic cooperation looks quite modest in figures for now, I am convinced that today we will determine strategic avenues of our cooperation primarily in economic affairs. There is a considerable potential for expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining industry, and education. Taking into account the development of the mining industry in Namibia, we suggest considering buying Belarusian mining machines and equipment as well as radiation-measuring equipment, which is handy for uranium mining operations.”

Andrei Kobyakov also noted that Belarus is a leading international producer of passenger vehicles, road construction and utility vehicles, tractors, and agricultural machines. “In accordance with programs on mechanizing agriculture in African countries we supply our machines virtually to all parts of Africa. We offer a good deal since our merchandise is bundled with modern financing options and quite attractive conditions for selling Belarusian machines. Those include export loans and selling Belarusian machines on international leasing terms. This is why we suggest considering the possibility of including our machines into the programs Namibia is implementing and which are financed as part of state development programs and international technical aid projects. With your assistance we would like to establish strong communication with Namibian partners for the sake of promoting Belarusian technological potential in Africa,” said the Prime Minister of Belarus.

The Prime Minister pointed out that education can become an independent branch of cooperation. “We are ready to offer personnel training services, arrange on-the-job training for the specializations you are interested in — first of all, those are agriculture, healthcare, engineering and technical professions, military arts. Cooperation in R&D can be promising, too. As a starting project we suggest considering the possibility of cooperation in technologies for processing Earth remote sensing data using our satellite. The use of multifunctional unmanned aerial systems developed by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus can be an important project, too,” said Andrei Kobyakov.

According to Andrei Kobyakov, Belarus is also ready to share the experience of setting up agro-towns with Namibia. Belarus is also ready to take part in programs on creating social infrastructure and engineering infrastructure in rural areas and can lend a helping hand with land melioration. “We are also interested in supplying residents of the region with dairy products, tinned food, baby food and other products. These are but a few of the possible cooperation avenues. We are ready to consider all proposals in favor of advancing cooperation,” he stated.

The Prime Minister stated that Belarus’ relations with African countries rely on traditions of friendship, equality, and mutual respect. “Southern Africa is quite an attractive region for Belarus as a promising and rapidly developing market. Today’s visit will lay down the necessary foundation, on which we will continue building fruitful interaction with Namibia in the spirit of mutual and comprehensive partnership,” concluded Andrei Kobyakov.

In turn, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that Belarus and Namibia have to seriously advance the bilateral cooperation and take it to the next level.