Namibia and Jamaica sign memoranda to deepen relationship

WINDHOEK, 23 JUL – Namibia and Jamaica on Monday signed various cooperation agreements aimed at deepening bilateral relationships between the two countries.
Two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the two governments were signed by the ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and Sports, Youth and National Service and their Caribbean Island nation counterparts.
Another MoU was set to be signed at a business luncheon arranged by the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at State House, President Hage Geingob said there is great potential in the area of technical and economic cooperation that Namibia needs to explore with the new agreements.
The Head of State highlighted that the stock exchange and investment sectors, particularly in the areas of energy, agriculture, infrastructure development, tourism and mining has not yet reached its full potential.
“The memoranda should allow Namibia to expand partnership and open new areas of cooperation to fully optimise the immense untapped potential with Jamaica,” said Geingob.
He further said the two countries should build a partnership that will grow and develop key issues such as value addition to resources, market access and infrastructure.
At the same occasion, Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness said with the new age of technology, phases of industrial information evolution and emerging geopolitical small countries such as Namibia and Jamaica need to work together to promote and defend their own interests.
“It is strategic to sign agreements with Namibia and develop understanding and friendship that will enable an exchange of ideas and commitment of cooperation,” said Holness.
He noted that Namibia and Jamaica in the past have signed agreements which, however, were not exploited to their full potential.
Holness said the new agreements are a great opportunity to fully exploit the potential missed in the past agreements.
The Jamaican Prime Minister will be in Namibia until Wednesday and will visit the Namibia Ports Authority in Walvis Bay on Tuesday, among other engagements.
(NAMPA)