WBCG UPDATES CLIENTS IN GAUTENG
From left to right; Bisey Uirab Namport’s CEO, His Excellency Marten Kapewasha High Commission of the Republic of Namibia to the Republic of South Africa, Rob Doe WBCG Johannesburg Business Development Manager, Oscar Muyatwa Executive Director of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS), Bonaventura Hinda Commercial Counsellor of the High Commisioner of the Republic of Namibia to the Republic of South Africa, Sławomir Sonarski First Secretary Embassy of the Republic of Poland, , Jowie Mulaudzi co-Chairperson TransKalahari Corridor Management Committee, Christian Faure Namport’s Executive of Marketing and Strategic Business Development, and Johny Smith WBCG CEO
On October 20, 2011 the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) hosted an information session in Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa. The purpose of the WBCG information session was to present and create further awareness of the benefits of utilizing the Walvis Bay Corridors through the Port of Walvis Bay to potential stakeholders.
The guests were welcomed by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the Republic of South Africa, his Excellency Marten Nenkete Kapewasha who said the following in his welcome remarks; “The success of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor is attributed to the strong relations and common vision held by Governments of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. These three Governments have been instrumental in identifying and resolving hurdles along the corridor. The Republic of Namibia in line with the SADC Trade Protocol will continue its contribution towards intra-SADC trade, ultimately integrating our economies regionally and globally.”
The guests were addressed by Jowie Mulaudzi, co-Chairperson, TransKalahari Corridor Management Committee. “Both the Walvis Bay Corridor Group and the Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee are partners committed to attaining the ideals of the SADC Protocols on Trade and Transport instruments (protocols) as well as the SACU Agreement i.e. to enhance trade and relations by improving trade, reduce transportation costs and transit times on our corridors. The success for our corridors is a result of a sound foundation of favourable bilateral and multilateral relations and a functional Public Private Partnership (PPP) development model. Our corridors have increasingly become competitive and are a trigger for foreign direct investment (FDI),” said Mulaudzi, in her keynote address. She further said that; “With the immense growth that we are experiencing in South Arica and especially most of them in Gauteng Region, South Africa is proud to note that Namibia, through Walvis Bay is taking a supporting role in SADC to enhance regional economic development and integration.”
The guests were also treated to a presentation on the WBCG, by the WBCG Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johny Smit, and as well as a presentation on the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) by the company’s Executive of Marketing and Strategic Business Development, Christian Faure.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the WBCG, Bisey Uirab said that; “We are proud for our achievements in successfully developing the Walvis Bay Corridors as an alternative trade route through the Port of Walvis Bay. This is achievable through the excellent working relations, co-operation and enthusiasm of our private and public stakeholders. We see it in the response of the private and public stakeholders to this information sharing event. These efforts will go a long way in the improvement in the utilization of the Walvis Bay Corridors.” Last month the WBCG held its first information session for this year in Zimbabwe, this was the second one, and next month another information session is scheduled for Botswana.
