KUWAIT CITY, Nov 22 (BERNAMA-NNN-NAMPA) -- The Namibian government has submitted a project proposal for the establishment of an industrial park at Walvis Bay for possible funding from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).
The other project which has also been submitted for funding is related to food security in Namibia, says Namibia's Deputy Prime Minister, Marco Hausiku, who was here to attend the Third Africa-Arab Summit here this week.
The two-day summit, which ended on Wednesday, was attended by 63 African and Arab countries, and focused on co-operation between the two regions, especially in the fields of politics, economy, investments and partnerships between civil society institutions. It further co-ordinated the African-Arab positions towards political issues of common interest, especially regional security and peace.
Hausiku said in an interbiew with NAMPA here Tuesday that he was still not sure which specific project under the food security cluster would be submitted, but confirmed that under the trade and industry project, the industrial park project was given the go-ahead by Trade Minister Calle Schlettwein.
""In terms of development and investment, we have quite a number of co-operation agreements with many Arab countries, but in the case of Kuwait, we have already tapped the KFAED in terms of the rehabilitation of our railways,"" he noted.
Hausiku explained that for this summit, Namibia submitted the two projects which it thought would be best to put forward, adding that the two projects were submitted for consideration so that work on them could get off the ground as soon as possible.
The industrial park at Walvis Bay, Namibia's main port, will host many industries and might possibly be one of the biggest projects Namibia has ever embarked upon, he enthused.
""In the long-term, we will have to develop an industrial park comprising many industries for value-adding purposes, particularly to our salt products and to manufacture different chemicals, including those which are used at health facilities, specifically in the treatment of people,"" he added.
Hausiku said he and Schlettwein had recently visited China and also sold the idea of an industrial park there. Some Chinese companies had come on board, but only as experts to assist in the establishment of the industrial park.
"What we really need is funding, both from our government and from our partners and investors. When this project gets off the ground, it will change the face not only of Walvis Bay, but that of the (southern African) region as well,"" he said.
The industrial park will be positioned to serve as an advanced manufacturing and modern service industry, driven by both investment and technology.
Hausiku led the Namibian delegation to the summit upon the request of President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who attended a Commonwealth Summit taking place in Sri Lanka during the same period.
-- BERNAMA-NNN-NAMPA