Monday, June 02, 2008

Malaysia to continue tech aid to Namibia

from the New Straits Times

Namibia will continue receiving Malaysia’s technical assistance to build its individual and institutional capacities. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Namibia’s National Planning Commission members had met their Malaysian counterparts concerning mechanisms to monitor the Third National Development Plan for Namibia.

“I am confident that Namibia will succeed and achieve its target of uplifting the socio-economic standing of its people, in its quest to achieve a developed-nation status by 2030,” Abdullah said.

He called on Namibia to jointly identify ways and means to manage problems and minimise negative impacts on the livelihood of its peoples, in the wake of global oil, commodities and food price increases.

“We need to cooperate more vigorously in agriculture, to exploit the fullest potentials for increasing food production. And I do believe that boosting our trade relations and increasing investment in other cooperative ventures will also help,” he said at a luncheon in honour of visiting Namibia president Hifikepunye Pohamba at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, yesterday.

Abdullah said as a developing country, Malaysia had learnt through experience that peace and stability on the domestic front were essential for attaining economic progress and prosperity.
“We have also learned from that experience that the solution to problems caused by poverty and underdevelopment lies not only in the construction of infrastructure and the provision of amenities but also in human capital investment. People need to be provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to become useful citizens. Thus equipped, they will then be able to uplift themselves economically and socially, and contribute to the well-being of society and nation,” he said.

Abdullah said as Malaysia was aware of Namibia’s Walvis Bay port as a major gateway to the Southern African Development Community market, it hoped Namibia would seek Malaysia as an alternative source for imports.

He praised Namibia for its preparations for the 2010 football World Cup which would bring many opportunities for investors in projects like the hospitality, transport, communications and service-providing industries.

“We will encourage Malaysian investors and businessmen to avail themselves of these opportunities,” said Abdullah.

In his address, Pohamba commended Malaysia for its democracy, human rights, security, political stability, disease control, unemployment, housing and poverty-eradication efforts which ensured economic development.

Namibia’s proximity with Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland provided trading access to 60 million people, while its main port provided a gateway for 350 million potential consumers in various industries, he said.

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