Mariental: The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, in collaboration with the Namibia Trade Forum, hosted an awareness campaign on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and the European Union (EU) in Mariental.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the campaign aimed to inform and educate the business community and stakeholders from the Hardap Region about the EPA. The EPA is an economic arrangement that removes barriers to the free movement of goods, services, and investments between countries. Namibia, along with other SADC countries such as Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, and South Africa, signed the EPA with the EU in October 2016. The agreement grants duty and quota-free access to the EU market and promotes regional integration among SADC and EPA states.
In a speech read on his behalf, Hardap Governor Salomon April emphasised the importance of the campaign, particularly for the business sector. He highlighted that the awareness campaign provides a platform for engagement, learning, and strategising on how the region can maximise the benefits of the EPA. He encouraged active participation in discussions, seeking clarity, and asking questions.
Wilma Guedegbe, a policy analyst at the trade ministry, spoke about the importance of the agreement for Namibians and the need for compliance with EU standards, including safety and environmental regulations. She advised the Namibian business community in Hardap to verify their products with the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) before exporting, to ensure they meet necessary requirements.
The event concluded with a discussion between participants and trade officials, where attendees had the opportunity to ask questions, seek clarifications, and exchange insights on the challenges and opportunities in exporting to the EU.