By Tawanda Chiwara
ZimTrade will be facilitating the participation of Zimbabwean companies at the 2022 Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair in Namibia, scheduled to take place from 26 August to 1 September 2022.
The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair in (OATF) is a leading trade and exhibition event on the Namibian Business Calendar.
It is also the single biggest event in Northern Namibia that draws exhibitors, business personalities, government leaders and visitors from all corners of the country as well as and across the boundaries of Namibia.
The trade fair will provide participating companies with an opportunity to interact with leading buyers in the market, which will unlock export opportunities in Namibia.
A market survey conducted in November 2019, identified opportunities for Zimbabwean exporters and with the renewed energy from local industry to increase presence in export markets, participating in this trade fair would be a positive move in firming trade relations with Namibia.
Zimbabwe and Namibia have a bilateral trade agreement, and both are signatories to the SADC trade agreement which all allow for duty free trade.
About OATF
According to statistics from the show organisers, visitors to the event have grown steadily since its inception in 2005 with 11 000 visitors being recorded in 2019.
The 2020 and 2021 OATF edition could not take place as the world embraced the Covid-19 pandemic.
The main objectives of participating at the OATF 2022 is to concretise prospective business leads identified during the market survey, to grow Zimbabwe’s exports to Namibia.
The event will allow participating companies a chance to generate orders, and to showcase Zimbabwean products to potential buyers in Namibia and other participating countries.
At least 15 Zimbabwean companies are set to participate at the event, drawn from sectors such as fast moving consumer goods, horticulture, leather, clothing, building, agriculture inputs and implements, construction material, and services.
Companies will be selected according to their ability to supply quality locally manufactured products that can compete on the export market.
Understanding Namibia’s economy and export opportunities
Namibia dollar (NAD) is the official currency of Namibia trades at par with the South African Rand, which is a legal tender in the country.
Against this background, Namibian economy remains integrated with the economy of South Africa, as the bulk of Namibia’s imports originate there
As the market is heavily dominated by South African businesses, Zimbabwean companies must strategically position themselves for niche markets if they are to become successful.
The country’s economy, which offers opportunities for Zimbabwe to supply products and services, is built on mining, tourism, fishing, manufacturing and agriculture.
The mining industry consisting mainly of diamond and uranium and the sector employs more than 14 000 people.
Namibia is the fourth largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa and is fifth world’s largest producer of uranium with capacity to supply 10 percent of global output.
Other minerals produced in large quantities include lead, zinc, tin, silver and tungsten.
These offer opportunities to supply capital equipment, electricals consumables, and materials used for processes that include aluminium powder, ammonia, anodes and cathode, caustic soda, coal and cobalt sulphate.
There are also opportunities in Namibia’s mining sector to export services such as engineering, surveying, instrumentation, transport, plant maintenance, environmental management and artisanal services like quantity.
Apart from exporting engineering skills, there are opportunities for Zimbabwean professionals in areas like the medical field, teaching, hospitality and catering, motor mechanics and skilled agriculture workers.
In fact, several Zimbabweans are running their own surgeries and pharmacies in the country with others managing various hotels and lodges.
Another key economy sector for Namibia is the fishing industry, which is concentrated in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Luderitz.
The sector accounts for more than 16,500 jobs and is the second most important foreign currency earner for the country.
Unique opportunities for Zimbabwean exporters are in provision of supplies for the fishery value chain.
With regards to tourism, the sector is a major industry which attracts more than a million visitors from across the world every year.
The country has extensive nature reserves which accounts for 18 percent of total surface area.
The tourism sector offers opportunity in the hospitality sub-sector where supplies and services – including employment – have a high demand given the inflow of tourists.
Although arable land accounts for only one percent, the agricultural sector is the largest employer, accounting 46 percent of total population.
The main farming products are beef, mutton and dairy, millet and maize, and these creates opportunities for exporters to supply farming inputs, equipment and medicines.
Namibia is classified relatively low on agricultural potential.
Thus, given Zimbabwe’s favourable climatic conditions, this presents opportunities for local enterprises to export fresh produce, which include both fresh vegetables and fruits.
Products such as Fine beans, Mange tout and Sugar snap peas, Berries, Baby vegetables and Chillies have potential to perform well in the Namibian market
