Namibia Embassy Berlin -
Regierungsmitteilungen
NEWS - THE NAMIBIAN | 2013-07-29, Theresia Tjihenuna
Namibia signs COP11 agreement
NAMIBIA has signed the agreement to host the 11th United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of the Parties (COP11).
Namibia will be the third country in Africa to host the event which will run from 16 to 27 September 2013 at the Windhoek Country Club and Resort. Last Friday the Minister of Foreign Affairs Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah signed a Host Country Agreement with the Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, Luc Gnacandja. 
The Host Country Agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of the government with regard to the hosting of the event. The COP11 takes place as Namibia experiences its most severe drought yet.
Between 2000 and 3000 delegates from over 195 parties to the UNCCD, UN organisations, inter-governmental and civil society organisations are expected to attend the event. Delegates, who also include scientists and affected communities, will debate and come up with solutions to improve the living conditions of people in dry-lands, maintaining and restoring land and soil productivity and mitigating the effects of drought.
The ministry of foreign affairs says each of the issues to be discussed are critical for Namibia, especially considering the current drought ravaging the country. According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, deforestation for cropland expansion and overgrazing are the major causes of land degradation and desertification. "More than 50% of agricultural land worldwide is affected by desertification and this process is accelerating. Whereas in 1991 just 15% of the earth's total land area was degraded, in 2011, this figure had spiralled to 25%," she said. The ministry said land degradation directly affects 1.5 billion people globally. A total of 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil is lost every year because of cropland erosion, while another 12 million hectares annually is affected by drought and desertification. read more...
Read the Hon Minister's Press Statement as pdf. here...
UNCCD - COP 11, Windhoek/Namibia, 16-22 September 2013, Press Statement
By Clemans Miyanicwe and Chamwe Kaira, 18 July 2013
Namibia: No Unfair EPA Deal
THE government says it will not change its stance on the signing of the new European Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). Namibia has argued that in its current form the agreement does not favour the needs of Namibia and that the country will get a raw deal if it signs the agreement as it is.
The EU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are negotiating a comprehensive EPA.
The stance of the government was repeated on Tuesday by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Malan Lindeque, during a media briefing with EU Commissioner of Trade, Karel De Gucht.
"An ideal solution is to negotiate for a win-win situation, Namibia will not be forced by external forces to sign EPA," Lindeque said adding that the government's stance on EPA has not changed and that Namibia will only sign the EPA if it is in the country's interests to do so.
On July the 16th EU Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, met senior Government officials including the Right Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Hage Geingob and Minister of Trade and Industry, Calle Schlettwein to discuss the current status of the EPA negotiations.
Lindeque said that although trade between Namibia and the EU stands at 2 billion euros (about N$26 billion), it is still an uphill battle for some Namibian products to get into the EU market.
"A mutual and beneficial agreement on constructive manners is what Namibia wants," said Lindeque adding that Namibia wants an agreement that will benefit it in the long run. "Circumstances of each country must be accommodated," he said.
De Gucht expressed hope that the meeting with Prime Minister Hage Geingob, and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Calle Schlettwein, will help to bring the talks closer to a conclusion.
"Namibia currently enjoys free access to the EU market, Namibian products whether industrial or agricultural do not pay duty at EU's borders and are not subject to quotas but this regime is based on a temporary instrument which will end on 1 October 2014," De Gucht said.
De Gucht warned that after that date "Namibia would not be eligible for preferential treatment for its exports to EU unless it ratifies an EPA."
De Gucht said he was committed to bringing the negotiations on an EPA to conclusion as soon as possible to so that Namibia continues to enjoy free access to the EU market.
Namibia and Germany sign new financial co-operation agreement totalling Euro 24,8 million (approximately N$ 320 million)
TEAM-NAMIBIA:
Key stakeholders invest in taking Namibian products and services to the next level
left to right, back row: Oiva Angula (Telecom Namibia), Marike de Jager (Bank Windhoek), Thomas Weber (GIZ), Ian Collard (Namib Mills), Pauline Thomas (Namdeb), Gideon Shilongo (O&L); left to right front row: Lizette Foot (Team Namibia), Dixon Norval (FNB & Team Namibia), Tarah Shaanika (NCCI & Team Namibia) and Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati (Namibia Trade Forum).
President Pohamba inaugurates AU golden jubilee celebrations
Africa ONE Television