WINDHOEK: Namibia feels that it is in a position to export more than the current beef allowable quotas to Norway and is requesting for an increase in the beef quota under both Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and Free Trade Area (FTA) arrangements.
The request for quota expansion under the FTA arrangement is in accordance with Article six of the Agricultural Agreement between Southern African Custms Union (SACU )States and Norway.
Currently, Namibia exports beef to Norway under two dispensations, which includes, the Norwegian GSP scheme and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU)-Norway Agricultural Agreement.
The Norwegian GSP system makes provision for an annual quota of 2700 tons for which duty free treatment of beef originating from Botswana and Namibia is conferred.
While, the SACU-Norway Agriculture Agreement, which forms part of the instruments establishing the SACU-FTA Agreement, includes a Protocol on Beef under which Norway grants an annual quota of 500 tons.
From the two instruments, Namibia and Botswana each has a total beef quota of 1600 tons per annum for preferential market access into Norway, that is, 1350 tons under the GSP scheme and 250 tons under the FTA.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Namibia has over the years attempted to enter the Norwegian market with bone-in-lamb and this matter has not been resolved to date.
Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Hage Geingob departs for Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday (today) evening to to attend various key meetings pertaining to issues of strategic economic interest to Namibia, mainly the promotion of investment through joint ventures from Norwegian companies into Namibian agricultural production and agro-processing.
The delegation will take the opportunity to reach an understanding with their Norwegian counterparts in terms entering the Norwegian market with bone-in-lamb.
According to a statement, Geingob, is leading a high powered Ministerial delegation, which includes, Tom Alweendo, Director General of the National Planning Commission, the two Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Josef Iita, and that of Trade and Industry, Dr Malan Lindeque.
Besides other high government officials, the Ministerial delegation is also accompanied by a powerful business delegation, mainly from the beef industry, which amongst others includes Paul Strydom, Chief Executive Officer of the Meat Board of Namibia, Clara Bohitile, Chairperson Meatco, as well as its CEO Kobus du Plessis. Andriet van Niekerk will represent Brukarros Meat Processors and the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) will be represented by its Acting Chief Executive Officer Pieter de Wet.
The delegation is expected home next week Monday.
Namibia is in the position to export more beef to Norway, and will request for an increase in the current quota under both the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and Free Trade Area (FTA) arrangements.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Trade and Industry said Namibia has over the years attempted to enter the Norwegian market with bone-in-lamb, and this matter has not been resolved to date.
To this effect, Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Hage Geingob will depart for Oslo, Norway on Tuesday this week to attend various key meetings pertaining to issues of strategic economic interest to Namibia, mainly the promotion of investment through joint ventures from Norwegian companies into Namibian agricultural production and agro-processing.
Geingob and his delegation will take the opportunity to reach an understanding with their Norwegian counterparts in terms of entering the Norwegian market with bone-in-lamb.
The request for quota expansion under the FTA arrangement is in accordance with Article Six of the Agricultural Agreement between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) States and Norway.
Currently, Namibia exports beef to Norway under two dispensations – the Norwegian GSP scheme and the SACU-Norway Agricultural Agreement.
The Norwegian GSP system makes provision for an annual quota of 2 700 tonnes for which duty-free treatment of beef originating from Botswana and Namibia is conferred, while, the SACU-Norway Agriculture Agreement, which forms part of the instruments establishing the SACU-FTA Agreement, includes a protocol on beef under which Norway grants an annual quota of 500 tonnes.
From the two instruments, Namibia and Botswana each has a total beef quota of 1 600 tonnes per annum for preferential market access into Norway, that is 1 350 tonnes under the GSP scheme and 250 tonnes under the FTA.
Meanwhile, Geingob will be accompanied by Tom Alweendo, the director-general of the National Planning Commission; and the two Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, and Trade and Industry Josef Iita and Dr Malan Lindeque, respectively.
Other members of the delegation are Paul Strydom, the chief executive officer of the Meat Board of Namibia; Clara Bohitile, the chairperson Meatco; as well as Meatco CEO Kobus du Plessis.
Andriet van Niekerk will represent Brukarros Meat Processors, while the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) will be represented by its acting CEO Pieter de Wet.
The delegation is expected home next Monday.