• Market Watch

Inaugural JTC between Namibia and Angola

- 2022-05-03 00:00:00

ELIJAH MUKUBONDA
The inaugural Joint Trade Committee (JTC) between Namibia and Angola that took place between 25 – 27 April 2022 in the Erongo region was a resounding success. Minister of Industrialisation and Trade Honourable Lucia Iipumbu and her Angolan counterpart, H.E. Victor Francisco Dos Santos Fernandes Minister of Industry and Commerce led their delegation to this very important get-together, being instrumental in supporting and driving the realisation of the JTC agenda. The duo displayed resilience, tenacity and resolute leadership and political action. The assembly began with Senior Official session as a curtain raiser preceding the Official Opening of the Ministerial session on Wednesday 27 April 2022. The committee deliberated on the terms of reference of the JTC to adopt appropriate measures that enhance promotion and development of trade and economic cooperation between the two governments within existing legal frameworks. Pursuant to the inauguration of the JTC, the two governments are to create conducive environments for the private sector to promote economic clusters on trade and investment participation.
Some of the major outcomes of the fruitful discussion include the Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocol on trade where both sister countries have high tariff rates of customs duties negatively affecting both private sector and consumer in benefitting from the existing cordial relationship in terms of trade and investment. Given the circumstance, the two countries will continue to trade on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) basis while Angola is accelerating accession process to the SADC Protocol on trade to benefit from the reduction and elimination of applicable tariffs. The other notable outcome of the JTC relates to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) where the committee recognized some of the trade barriers experienced by traders from both countries and resolved to address them amicably to create business opportunities and employment, increase trade and investment and facilitate the creation of regional value chains. Also, significant to the gathering was the facilitation to ease trade for informal traders facing notable challenges concomitant to issues delaying clearing of goods and services at entry points. Among others, the contributing factors include cumbersome processes of obtaining mandatory permits, high tariffs, lengthy clearance processes, issues of currency exchange, different customs operating systems, language barriers, etc. Given the circumstances mentioned above, fully vaccinated travellers are now only required to present Covid-19 vaccination certificate as a means to ease operation of traders and help them formalise trading to enable adherence to national laws and regulation. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies at border points are to create awareness on requirements and procedures to simplify the movement of goods and services.
Illicit
Regarding the trending subject on illicit cross border fuel trade, Namibia expressed concern over challenges relating to fuel smuggling from Angola to Oshikango and surrounding areas especially through ungazetted entry points. With reference to the Petroleum Products Regulations of 2000, that prohibits any other from selling fuel except a licensed petroleum installation. The law also disallows the procession or storage of fuel without a valid license or certificate authorizing such possession or storage. Serious measure was put through by Angola to discourage practices such as illicit cross border fuel trade by enforcing a Presidential Decree No.23/19 of June 2021 which defines the quantities of fuel to be exported as well as the fees and sur-charges for the export of petroleum products. Both parties are committed to collaborate to transform these challenges into trade opportunities by selling products and services of regional standard. The Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has formed synergy with its counterpart to ensure that business community is well informed regarding the provisions of the Presidential Decree.
Important areas of cooperation comprise trade in bovine, meat and meat products being formalised and signature foreseeable and implemented post the upcoming inaugural session of the Bi-National Commission to be hosted by Angola. In addition, another priority is placed on cross border value chains to explore significant opportunities to develop bilateral and cross border value chains in the areas of sugar, metal products, meat and seafood processing, ship repairs, dimensional stone and textiles, envisaged to be integrated into the SADC Industrialisation Forum on developing regional and bilateral value chains.
OBSP
Finally, yet importantly, greater need is the One Stop Border Post (OBSP) proposed at Oshikango/Santa Clara border post. Internal processes are being finalised and hastened to set up OSBP needed infrastructure and ensure readiness to conclude such processes. It is commendable to say, the two countries are finalising legal frameworks on the OSBP. Attached to this is the need to coordinate border management unit in areas of mutual concern such as aligning working days and hours; aligning procedures and formalities; developing and sharing common facilities and joint controls. All these will advance required processes in setting up the OSBP infrastructure.
Conclusively, Namibia trades in sugar, salt, meat and meat products to Angola. In not only goods but also services, mainly essential services correlated to health. Bilateral trade between Nam and Angola has surged downwards notably so from 2019 to date, mainly because of various factors and challenges globally and regionally such as the Covid-19 pandemic, economic down turn, and the current ongoing situation between Russia and Ukraine hiking commodity prices. The two countries vowed to interrogate factors contributing to this situation to design workable modalities to increase trade and economic cooperation. More so, to create a conducive environment for the private sector to trade and participate in investment activities. Stimulating trade and enabling economic activities remains the core mandate of the JTC between the two countries. Given the excellent political relations that exist between the two countries, the JTC expressed satisfaction in the need for continued consultations on issues of mutual interest while noting critical matters such as adherence to regional and international and the need to maintain vigilance on necessary structures.