WINDHOEK, Feb. 7 — Namibia and Nigeria have resumed bilateral discussions after a 14-year gap, focusing on trade, investment, and energy cooperation, officials said Wednesday. Speaking at the opening of the fifth session of the Namibia-Nigeria Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) Wednesday in the Namibian capital of Windhoek, Penda Naanda, executive director of the Namibian Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, said the meeting is an opportunity to strengthen ties. “This fifth session of the JPCC is of great significance since this is the first time in 14 years that Namibia and Nigeria are hosting the JPCC,” Naanda said. “The last session was held in 2010, an injustice to our excellent historical and friendship bond that has existed for many decades.” The JPCC is expected to facilitate cooperation in sectors including transport, trade, energy, agriculture, and tourism. “We, therefore, look forward to expediting our cooperation in areas such as works, transport and marine cooperation, trade, finance, investments and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) development, mines, and renewable energies as well as oil and gas,” Naanda said. The southern African country aims to increase exports of fish, meat, leather, salt, and minerals to Nigeria while looking to import Nigerian products such as cocoa, palm oil, and textiles. “It is my conviction that Nigeria will join our exclusive list of niche markets and serve as an ideal export destination,” Naanda said. According to Naanda, existing trade relations include Namibia‘s Walvis Bay Salt Works exporting salt worth about 5 million U.S. dollars annually to Nigeria. Namibia also expressed interest in deeper collaboration in the oil and gas sector while the meeting is seen as part of Africa’s broader efforts to enhance intra-continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area. The JPCC discussions will continue this week, with officials expected to outline concrete steps for strengthening cooperation.
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