Local businesses seek opportunities at Namibian dry port
Pauline Dikuelo | Friday May 22, 2015 14:44
BITC corporate communications manager, Itumeleng Teseletso said this mission, which is organised by BITC in conjunction with Botswana High Commission in Namibia, would sensetise Batswana entrepreneurs about the opportunities and the value of Botswana having a dry port as well as help them identify some business opportunities that exist in Namibia.
“The mission aims to expose and sensetise the Botswana relevant community about the Dry Port at Walvis Bay. The participants from Botswana will get first hand experience of the Dry Port and also be exposed to the numerous business and commercial opportunities that the Port has to offer,” she said.
The participants will also attend organised business forums as well as pre-arranged meetings between companies from Namibia and Botswana to identify possible business linkages amongst themselves.
“A good number of companies have shown interest in the mission, as we anticipate up to 15 companies from Botswana to take part. So far, over 10 companies have confirmed their participation and BITC continues to receive more enquiries regarding this mission,” she explained.
Teseletso further said that several Namibian-based companies have also registered to participate in the mission. Key stakeholders from Botswana and Namibia that include Botswana Railways, Botswana High commission to Namibia, Trans Kalahari corridor secretariat, Sea Rail Botswana, Walvis Bay group and the Namport Walvis Bay, will also participate in the mission.
She added that all interested Botswana based companies in the cargo and logistics as well as relevant companies qualify to undertake the mission.
“ This mission is open to all interested companies as it is an opportunity for Botswana companies to explore any business opportunity the Dry Port presents even though the companies may not necessarily be in the cargo and logistics industry,” she said.
The services offered at the port include cartage services, container handling, stacking, storage, a break bulk terminal, general-purpose warehouse, empty container park and value-added services like custom clearance.
The Botswana Dry Port in Walvis Bay, Namibia is owned and managed by Sea Rail Botswana, a subsidiary of the Botswana Railways.
The port acts as a key receipt or dispatch point for commodities headed to Botswana or regionally, providing storage and bagging. To date, BITC has embarked on several missions to South Africa, Japan, South Korea and Middle East, in which some they roped in entrepreneurs, while they went alone with others, depending on the mission agenda. These investment and trade missions aim to expose the Botswana business community to regional and international markets thus helping them to increase export potential, which would in turn address the market saturation in Botswana.