I ndustr y news |
by Austin Gamble
Namibia
accepts the
challenge
Namibia occupies a unique geographical location
in the Southern African region, and the jewels
in its crown are the ports of Walvis Bay and
Lüderitz, both of which can play an increasingly
important role as regional logistics hubs.
T
his became patently clear during the Walvis Bay Corridor
Group’s (WBCG) Beyond Borders Information Session at
the Hyatt Hotel, Rosebank Johannesburg, on 8 October
2014. The presentations were interesting and insightful, and
whilst many areas were covered the main focus was the Walvis
Bay Corridor, and the role that this corridor can play as a service
and facilitation centre to promote imports and exports via the
Port of Walvis Bay for the SADC region.
The synergies that can flow from this PPP arrangement make a
win-win scenario entirely plausible, and judging by the energy in
the room, I have no doubt that the architects of this vision will
succeed.
The vision is not some theoretical model, because
this has happened before. The inspirations for
these objectives are real life success stories
– Singapore and Dubai. The gaols have been
codified under a set of principles known as
Namibian Vision 2030, and all concerned have
been urged by the chairman of the WBCG, Bisey
Uirab, to commit to this vision and to transform
Namibia into a logistics hub, to rival Singapore
and Dubai by 2030.
➲ The High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia,
Marten Nenkete Kapewasha, says that Namibia accepts the
challenge to be the gateway to southern Africa
The WBCG intends to achieve this vision through
public private partnerships (PPP), and by using
its connections with the public sector to facilitate
action around issues such as customs, transport
regulation and infrastructure development,
whilst receiving support from the private sector
on business development, with key inputs on
➲ WBCG chief executive office Johny M. Smith, says
that the South African Botswana corridor has the biggest
potential for growth
marketing, practical operational proposals and
logistical solutions.
| Wheels in Action
92
november 2014