African Business 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE
Two private companies, InnoSun Energy Holding
and United Africa, will generate the same amount
of electricity on the two other farms.
When it comes to trade, transport and tourism,
a specialised unit, the Trans Kalahari Corridor
Secretariat (TKCS), works on easing conditions for
interaction between the two countries. South Africa
is the third participant in an initiative which focusses
on organisational efficiency, border management,
stakeholder management and safety and security.
Namibia
Namibia’s population of about 2.5-million has lots
of room to move in more than 842 000km² of land,
much of which is desert, along Africa’s west coast.
Historically, the country has been rich in diamonds
and uranium production. Husab Uranium Mine is
the third-largest uranium mine in the world but no
new mines are planned. Good copper prices are
expected to boost earnings in the short term.
The agricultural sector made breakthroughs in
2019 and 2020 with the acceptance by China and
the US of consignments of imported Namibian beef.
A $72-million rail project, part-funded by a loan
from the African Development Bank, will see the
Walvis Bay-Kranzberg line upgraded. State entity
TransNamib regards this as a strategic line as it
links the port with the interior and beyond to other
countries in the region. Other infrastructure news is
that Chinese state-owned construction company,
China Henan International Cooperation Group, has
won the contract worth $35.6-million to construct
the Tses-Gochas road in the south.
The marine sector is growing in importance.
Marine engineering and ship-repair company
Namdock has onshore engineering and fabricating
facilities and operates three floating docks,
including a Panamax-sized dock, in Walvis Bay.
Engen Namibia’s acquisition of the services of a
77.4m barge will boost bunkering capabilities at the
Namibian ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz. Engen
Namibia has stated its support of Namport’s vision
to attract increased volumes of cargo to the Port of
Walvis Bay and position the Walvis Bay Corridor as a
natural gateway for international trade.
A kelp farm to be developed off the coast of
Lüderitz is said to be the first in the world to be
developed to a large scale (Engineering News).
Netherlands-based Kelp Blue will run the project
which is currently backed by Climate Fund
Managers’ Climate Investor Two Fund and Namibia
Infrastructure Development and Investment Fund
(NIDIF). More investors will be invited to join the
$60-million project.
The Namibia Investment Centre (NIC) falls
under the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and
SME Development.
Botswana
Botswana’s Vision 2036 aims to transform Botswana
from an upper middle-income country to a highincome
country by 2036. A National Transformation
Strategy (NTS) is to be developed. In 2020
proposals were invited from local providers for
the development of methodology for Vision 2036.
Consultants were also invited to register.
In implementing infrastructure projects ranging
from hospitals, schools and police stations, the state
is looking at various models of delivery, including
creating smaller tasks within projects that can be
tackled by co-operatives.
Botswana has made the most of its natural
resources and succeeded in turning what was a poor
country at the time of its independence from Britain
in 1966 into the ranks of middle-income countries.
The country has enjoyed long periods of political
stability and runs credible elections. Botswana’s
mineral wealth includes diamonds, copper, nickel,
salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore and silver. The
main economic sectors are mining and tourism
where the Okavango Delta is the jewel in the crown,
attracting high-spending tourists.
The Botswana Trade and Investment Centre
(BTIC) is responsible for investment and export
promotion, and the promotion and development of
the nation’s brand. ■
27 AFRICAN BUSINESS 2021