Angola has expressed readiness to assist Namibia in building its oil and gas sector, drawing from its own experience in the industry.
Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari says Angola’s experience in the oil and gas sector has the capacity to provide adequate training to Namibians.
“Angola has built capacity in the oil and gas sector, providing training to Namibians in Angola, and has demonstrably shown readiness to assist Namibia’s nascent oil and gas sector,” he said on Friday.
This follows president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s work visit to Angola focused on strengthening cooperation in agriculture, trade, oil and gas last week.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s visit marked the first official foreign trip since taking office on 21 March.
Hengari said the purpose of the visit was also to introduce herself to Angolan president João Lourenço and to learn from other southern governments.
The president was accompanied by first gentleman Denga Ndaitwah and minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi.
The two heads of state affirmed the need to continue strengthening their historic bonds by scaling up economic cooperation to deal with the shared challenges of youth unemployment.
“President Nandi-Ndaitwah and president Lourenço further agreed to take precise actions to scale up economic cooperation to deal with the shared challenges of unemployment, which disproportionately affects young people,” he said.
The two presidents agreed on prioritising agriculture, energy, tourism, oil and gas, logistics and infrastructure, including water cooperation, which are crucial to fighting unemployment in both countries.
Ashipala-Musavyi and the minister of external relations of Angola are to agree on a date for the inaugural meeting of the Bi-National Commission.
Hengari highlighted that legal instruments and cooperation frameworks must be strengthened to give full effect to the decision both countries undertook in 2019 to raise bilateral cooperation.
A joint commission of cooperation will be co-chaired by the two heads of state.
In addition to the pursuit of private sector investments, the two presidents expressed urgency in the development of the Baynes Hydropower Plant as a catalyst for economic development in both countries.
This is to extend power transmission and water canals to serve the northern parts of Namibia and energy exports to neighbouring countries.
To facilitate trade and movement of goods between Namibia and Angola, an envisaged rail connection between the two countries can further strengthen this relationship.
