XIAMEN: Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Tjekero Tweya has encouraged Namibian business people participating in the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) to create partnerships and exchange skills with their Chinese counterparts.

Tweya said this during a meeting with members of the Namibian delegation participating in the fair upon their arrival in Xiamen, China on Friday.

The 16th CIFIT started on Saturday and is taking place here under the theme ‘Introducing FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and Going Global’.

The deputy minister called on the Namibians to forge partnerships with Chinese business people for the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Namibia, adding that China’s economy has grown because of the growing number of SMEs contributing to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

“China has not been affected by the global economic crisis because of the growing of SMEs,” Tweya said.

He further encouraged the Namibians to visit Chinese business outlets here in order to observe the businesses’ activities.

Tweya is expected to do a presentation on the investment opportunities, business climate and investment policies in Namibia on Sunday.

Namibian business entities represented at the CIFIT include, amongst others, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI); the Offshore Development Company; Epangelo Mining; Etameko Marketing and Sales; Linn’s Investment; Great Kunene Minerals; the Komeho Namibia Development Agency; Offshore Mineral Exploration and Kondja Engineering.

The fair ends on Tuesday.