Country Profile - NAMIBIA

General Information

Area: 824,292 sq km (318,261 sq miles).

Population: 1,862,000 (official estimate 2000).

Population Density: 2.3 per sq km.

Capital: Windhoek. Population: 202,000 (UN estimate 1999).

GEOGRAPHY: Namibia is in southwest Africa. It is a large and mainly arid country sharing borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and, in the Caprivi Strip, a narrow panhandle of Namibian territory jutting from the northeast corner of the country, with Zambia and Zimbabwe. To the west is 1280km (795 miles) of some of the most desolate and lonely coastline in the world. The port of Walvis Bay, situated roughly halfway down Namibia’s coast, was returned by South Africa to Namibian jurisdiction in February 1994. Along its entire length, the vast shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert spread inland for 80 to 130km (50 to 80 miles). In the interior, the escarpment of a north–south plateau slopes away to the east and north into the vast interior sand basin of the Kalahari. In the far northwest, the 66,000 sq km (25,500 sq miles) of the Kaokoland mountains run along the coast, while further inland lies the Etosha Pan (a dried-out saline lake), surrounded by grasslands and bush which support a large and varied wildlife. The Etosha National Park & Game Reserve is one of the finest in Africa, in that it remains, to a large extent, free of human influence.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from South Africa in 1990. Head of State: President Samuel Nujoma since 1990. Head of Government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab since 2002.

Language: English is the official language. Afrikaans is spoken by most people. German, Herero, Kavango, Nama and Owambo are also spoken.

Religion: Christian majority.

Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 1 from April to August).

Electricity: 220 volts AC. Outlets are of the three-pin type.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 264. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network in use. The main network provider is MTC (website: www.mtc.com.na).

Fax: Most hotels have facilities.

Internet: ISPs include IML (website: www.iml.com.na) and NCS. There are Internet cafes in Walvis Bay and Windhoek

Post: Good postal service. Airmail to Europe takes approximately 4 days to 2 weeks.

Press: Newspapers are printed Monday to Friday. English-language dailies include The Namibian and The Windhoek Advertiser; weeklies include the Windhoek Observer. New Era is printed twice weekly.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Passport/Visa

Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required?
British Yes No Yes
Australian Yes No Yes
Canadian Yes No Yes
USA Yes No Yes
OtherEU Yes 1 Yes
Japanese Yes No Yes

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for a minimum of 6 months after the date of departure from Namibia required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following for stays of up to 3 months:

(a) nationals of countries shown in the chart above;

(b) 1. nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Greece who do require a visa);

(c) nationals of Angola, Botswana, Brazil, China, CIS, Cuba, Iceland, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe;

(d) those continuing to a third country and not leaving the airport transit area.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist, Business and Transit: £20

Validity: Valid up to 3 months from date of issue for stays of up to 3 months from date of entry. Extensions for a further 3 months are available from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at High Commission); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Completed application form. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Return or onward ticket. (e) Fee. (f) Letter of invitation from Namibian resident, if applicable. Business: (a)-(f) and, (g) Company letter.

Working days required: 2 to 4.

Temporary residence: Apply to the High Commission or Embassy; see Contact Addresses section.

Money

Currency: The Namibian Dollar (NAD) has been introduced in note denominations of NAD200, 100, 50 and 10. Coins were also introduced in 1994 in denominations of NAD5 and 1. It is linked to the South African Rand (R) on a 1:1 basis (South African Rand = 100 cents). The South African Rand is also acceptable as currency in Namibia.

Currency exchange: Available in banks and at bureaux de change. A better rate of exchange can be obtained on travellers cheques than on cash.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or South African Rand.

Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is limited to NAD50,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, provided declared on arrival. Export of foreign currency is unlimited up to amount imported and declared as long as the departure is within 12 months. Note: No limits exist for travel between Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland as these countries are members of the same common monetary area.

Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Namibian Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb '04 May '04
£1.00= 12.00 11.70 12.87 12.50
$1.00= 7.52 6.89 7.07 7.00

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat 0830-1100.

Duty Free

Duty Free: The following may be imported into Namibia by persons over 16 years of age without incurring customs duty:

400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2l of wine and 1l of spirits; 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; gifts to the value of NAD50,000 (including value of imported duty-free items).

Restricted items: Hunting rifles need a permit, issued by customs when entering the country. Handguns are not allowed.

Public Holidays

Public Holidays: Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Mar 21 Independence Day. Apr 9-12 Easter. May 1 Workers’ Day. May 4 Cassinga Day. May 20 Ascension. May 25 Africa Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation). Aug 26 Heroes’ Day. Dec 10 International Human Rights Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Family Day. Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Mar 21 Independence Day. Mar 25-28 Easter. May 1 Workers’ Day. May 4 Cassinga Day. May 5 Ascension. May 25 Africa Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation). Aug 26 Heroes’ Day. Dec 10 International Human Rights Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Family Day.

Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required?
Yellow Fever Yes 1
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A
Malaria 3 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from infected areas. Those countries or parts of countries that were included in the former endemic zone in Africa and South America are regarded by the Namibian authorities as infected. Travellers on scheduled airlines whose flights have originated outside areas regarded as infected but have passed through such areas in transit are not required to possess a certificate, provided they have remained at the scheduled airport or in the adjacent town during transit. All passengers with unscheduled airlines whose flights originated or passed in transit through an infected area are required to possess a certificate. The certificate is not insisted upon in the case of children under 1 year of age, but such infants may be subject to surveillance.

2: Typhoid may occur.

3: Malaria risk exists in the northern regions and in Otjozondjupa and Omaheke from November to May/June and along the Kavango and Kunene rivers throughout the year. The predominant falciparum strain is reported to be resistant to chloroquine. The recommended prophylaxis is chloroquine plus proguanil.

Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water (also because of the presence of crocodiles); swimming pools which are well chlorinated and well maintained are safe. Natural foci of plague have been reported in Namibia. Hepatitis A can occur. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic.

Health care: Anti-bite serums for snakes and scorpions are advised. Health insurance is essential.

Travel – International

AIR: Namibia’s national airline is Air Namibia (SW) (website: www.airnamibia.com), which provides flights from Windhoek to Frankfurt. Other airlines include LTU International Airways, Lufthansa and South African Airways.

Approximate flight times: From Frankfurt to Windhoek is 9 hours.

International airports: Windhoek (WDH) (Windhoek International Airport) is 40km (25 miles) from the city (travel time – 35 minutes). Buses go to the city. Airport facilities include restaurant, bars, snack bar, duty-free shops, post office, bureau de change and car hire. Buses return to the airport from the Kalahari Sands Hotel in Windhoek.

Departure tax: None.

SEA: There is a modern deep-water harbour at Walvis Bay. There is also a small port at Lüderitz.

RAIL: The railway network linking most towns in Namibia to Windhoek is joined to the RSA rail system at Ariamsvlei, Namibia. There is one train per week, with connections from Cape Town and Johannesburg as follows: Johannesburg–De Aar–Keetmanshoop–Windhoek, and Cape Town–Windhoek.

ROAD: A tarred road runs from the south through Upington in South Africa to Grünau, where it connects with the tarred road from Cape Town. The untarred road from the east from Botswana to Gobabis is currently being upgraded as part of a new trans-Kalahari highway. The trans-Caprivi highway runs through the Caprivi strip and via Botswana into Zimbabwe. Bus: Overnight services are available from Windhoek to Cape Town and Johannesburg; these depart approximately three times a week. Other services go to Botswana and Zambia.

Travel – Internal

AIR: Flying is the quickest and often the most economical way to travel around the country. Air Namibia (SW) links all of the major towns in the territory. Planes can also be chartered.

RAIL: The main rail routes in Namibia are Windhoek– Keetmanshoop–De Aar, Walvis Bay–Swakopmund– Windhoek–Tsumeb, and Lüderitz–Keetmanshoop. First- and second-class carriages are available on these routes. Light refreshments are offered on some services. On overnight voyages, seats in first-class compartments convert to four couchettes and those in second class to six couchettes. Local passenger and goods trains run daily. Children under 2 years of age travel free and children aged 2 to 11 pay half fare. The Desert Express, a luxury train aimed at tourists, runs between Swakopmund and Windhoek. The 19 hour 30 minute journey includes several stops which give travellers the opportunity to watch lions feeding, see the Namib Desert, walk in the sand dunes and admire the stars. A three-course dinner and overnight accommodation are included in the ticket price.

ROAD: Traffic drives on the left. Roads are generally well maintained. There are 64,799km (40,266 miles) of road, of which 7841km (4872 miles) are tarred. Bus: Services are not well developed and there is no transport except taxis in Windhoek. A luxury bus service exists between Windhoek and all major centres in Namibia and South Africa. Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at the airport and Windhoek city centre, as well as some other major centres. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.

Accommodation

HOTELS: There are good-quality hotels both in Windhoek and Swakopmund, and some scattered throughout the country. There are a number of 4-star hotels in Windhoek and one in Etosha; all provide modern conference facilities. In Swakopmund, there is one 4-star hotel. Hotel accommodation is limited and visitors are advised to book well in advance. For further information, contact HAN (Hotel Association of Namibia), PO Box 86078, Windhoek (tel/fax: (61) 222 904; e-mail: han@mweb.com.na; website: www.hannamibia.com). Grading: Hotels are graded on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

LODGES: In the Etosha National Park and other game reserves, there are well-equipped rest camps with comfortable accommodation. Reservations for the national parks can be made with Namibia Wildlife Resorts Ltd. (website: www.nwr.com.na).

CAMPING: Some of the national parks have camping facilities, notably the Etosha National Park & Game Reserve. There is also camping at Ai-Ais, a hot-spring area towards the South African border, Hardap Dam in the south, Gross Barmen near Okahandja, Popa Falls in Kavango, in the Namib-Naukluft Park and at various places along the coast.

Sport & Activities

Northwest of Usakos, rising out of the Namib, is the 2000m (6562ft) Spitzkoppe where there is good mountaineering. Some of the coastal and river areas provide good opportunities for fishing, especially in the waters of the northern Caprivi strip. There are several hiking trails in the Fish River Canyon, the Naukluft Mountains, the Ugab River and the Waterberg Plateau Park. Sandgliding, a pastime popular amongst local people, is available in desert areas. Balloon safaris are organised by some tour operators. There are excellent opportunities for birdwatching. Namibia’s flat terrain and vast open spaces provide good off-road cycling.

Social Profile

Food & Drink: Restaurants and cafes reflect the German influence on Namibia, and most dining rooms offer a reasonable choice of local and continental cuisine. They are found mainly in the major cities. A speciality of Namibia is game, in all its variations; worth a try are biltong (air-dried meat) and Rauchfleisch (smoked meat).

Nightlife: In the central area of Windhoek, there are restaurants, cafes, a cinema and a theatre.

Shopping: Windhoek has a selection of fashionable shops. Local crafts can be bought in some specialised shops and at the Windhoek Street Market, held every second Saturday. Good buys include diamonds and semiprecious stones, Herero dolls, hand-carved wooden objects, jewellery, karosse rugs, liqueur chocolates made in Windhoek and Swakara garments. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300. Some bigger supermarkets are also open Sun 1100-1300 and 1600-1900.

Special Events: For a full list of special events occurring in Namibia during 2004, contact Namibia Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events celebrated annually in Namibia:

Apr Windhoek Carnival. Aug Maherero Day, Okahandja; Küste Karnival, Swakopmund. Sep Windhoek Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial Show. Oct Oktoberfest.

Social Conventions: Western customs prevail; normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone’s home. Tipping: 10 per cent is customary.

Business Profile

Economy: The mining industry is the strongest part of the economy, the kernel of Namibia’s export economy, and accounts for about 20 per cent of GDP. Extracted minerals include silver, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten and uranium and Namibia is also the source of some of the world’s highest-quality diamonds. A much larger proportion of the workforce – 45 per cent against 4 per cent engaged in mining – is engaged in agriculture and fishing. Livestock dominates the agricultural sector, although a substantial proportion of the agricultural workforce is engaged in subsistence farming of crops such as wheat, maize and millet. Agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult over time as the desert encroaches on previously fertile soil; it has also suffered chronic damage from the recurrent drought afflicting the whole region. Namibia enjoys exceptionally rich fishing grounds, although stocks of pilchard – the main species in the area – have been depleted by uncontrolled fishing in the period before Namibian independence. Commercial shipping activity has picked up since the return of Walvis Bay, the best deep-water port in Africa on the Atlantic side, to Namibian jurisdiction (the apartheid government in Pretoria tried to hang on to the port, even after independence). The establishment of a free-trade zone at Walvis Bay has further enhanced its status as a centre for regional trade. Manufacturing is mainly devoted to processing of raw materials and agricultural produce. Most of the country’s trade is with South Africa, essentially involving the exchange of raw materials for manufactured goods. Recent economic policy has seen many former state enterprises transferred to the private sector. The economy has performed reasonably well during the last decade with average annual growth of between 3 and 5 per cent; inflation is currently 10 per cent. Other than South Africa, the UK is the only other significant trading partner, followed far behind by the other larger EU countries, Côte d’Ivoire and the USA.

Business: Suits should be worn in winter, safari suits in summer. Prior appointments are necessary. English is widely spoken in business circles. The best times for business are February to May and September to November. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700.

Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 9355, Windhoek (tel/fax: (61) 228 809; e-mail: ncci@iafrica.com.na; website: http://goss.rho.net/ncci/indexp.htm); or Conference Link Namibia, PO Box 9870, Windhoek (tel: (61) 251 014; fax: (61) 272 032; e-mail: info@conferencelink.com.na; website: www.conferencelink.com.na). Video conferencing is available.

Climate

Climate: The cold Benguela current keeps the coast of the Namib Desert cool, damp and free of rain for most of the year, with a thick coastal fog. Inland all the rain falls in summer (November to April). Summer temperatures are high while the altitude means that nights are cool. Winter nights can be fairly cold, but days are generally warm and pleasant.

Required clothing: Light cottons, with slightly heavier cottons or light woollens for evening. Inland, shoes are essential during the day as the ground is very hot.

India - Namibia Economic Relations

Bilateral Relations

Namibia’s relations with India are based on nostalgia and high appreciation for the diplomatic, moral and material support extended by India during the country’s struggle for independence and for the assistance rendered after independence, in its nation-building efforts. President Nujoma, in particular, leads his countrymen in keeping alive these bonds of friendship and warmth towards India. Political interaction has continued at a steady pace, through exchange of high-level visits of dignitaries as well as interaction in various international fora, including the UN, NAM and Commonwealth. President Nujoma, visited India in February 2003, during which an important Memorandum of Understanding was signed providing for co-operation in various sectors like the establishment of a civil services institute in Namibia, assistance to Namibia in evolving a strategic plan for e-governance, setting up of an agro processing unit and setting up of SME clusters.
The Government of India has adopted the ‘Focus Africa’ policy to transform a warm political relationship into one wherein, trade and economic cooperation acquires a higher salience. The formation of NEPAD, to which Prime Minister has announced a soft credit of US $ 200 million, has given rise to new opportunities for greater interaction and for enhancing trade and economic cooperation. Namibia, which occupies a strategic position in the sub-Saharan Africa, enjoys political stability, has excellent infrastructure, a modern and valuable port at Walvis Bay and has in place a set of government policies for encouraging trade and investment. The end of the Angolan civil war, the opening of market in southern Angola, accessible only from Namibia, adds a promising additional prospect. Namibia’s infrastructure provides access to Central African and SACU member countries.

Technical Cooperation

Namibia is a partner country under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and has received substantial assistance for its HRD and vocational training programmes. Since independence in 1990 till 2000 only around 100 Namibian nominees visited India under ITEC and various GOI scholarship programmes. However, beginning 2001-02, there has been a greater appreciation of the programmes and the Government of Namibia has evinced a keen interest in utilising the slots for scholarship. In fact, during the year 2001-2002, 57 Namibian nationals, including one Mayor and senior officials from the Office of the President, Prime Minister etc., were trained in India under ITEC/SCAAP scholarships. During 2002-03, the scholarship figure reached 37. During 2003-04 all the 30 slots allotted were utilised much before time. India’s assistance, in the ITEC/SCAAP, is much appreciated at the highest levels of the Government of Namibia. The India-Namibia Plastic Technology Demonstration Centre (INPTC) also set up under ITEC, aims at popularising Indian plastic technology and equipment among the emerging entrepreneurial class of Namibia.

Under the ITEC Study visits programme, Mr. Patrick Nandago, Namibian Chief of Protocol, visited India from 3-14 January 1999 to study the functioning of the Protocol Division of the Ministry of External Affairs. The Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr.Frans Kapofi, led a three-member delegation to India from 10 to 14th December 2002, mainly with the objective of studying the Cabinet system in India, the functioning of the civil service, the Public Service Management System and e-governance. Also under the ITEC programme, Dr.K.K.Talwar, Professor of Cardiology, AIIMS, visited Windhoek from 25-29 September 2001, in order to make an assessment regarding the setting up of the first Cardiac Unit in Windhoek. During January 2004, a four member delegation led by the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Namibia visited India for 2 weeks to have discussions with various institutes of higher learning in order to consider institutional linkage with the University of Namibia. A senior Deputy Director from the Lal Bahadhur Shastri Institute of National Administration, Mussoori is expected to visit Namibia shortly in order to provide expert advice to the Namibian government regarding the proposal to set up a civil services institute in Namibia.

Trade

Namibia still depends heavily on South Africa for its external trade, particularly more so for its imports. The main imports are from the members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The share of South Africa in Namibia’s total imports, according to the latest available statistics, is 86.22 percent. Many products from different countries, including India are in the Namibian market. However, because these items are being re-imported mostly from South Africa, (in some cases via other SACU countries), they are not indicated as imports from the ‘country of origin’ but as imports from South Africa. Another example is the import of diamonds, mined by De Beers, and sold through the London and Antwerp exchanges. Though Namibia is a large country with a surface area of 825,418 square kilometres [about ¼ the size of India], yet it has a population of only 1.8 million. The small size of the local market and the stranglehold which South African companies exert over it, have so far inhibited Indian companies from trading with Namibia.

According to the Foreign Trade Statistics of India, published by the Directorate of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics, the following are the trade figures relating to Namibia:

Year Imports from Namibia to India Exports from India to Namibia
1997-98 Rs. 20.57 lakhs Rs. 616.06 lakhs
1998-99 Rs. 3.62 lakhs Rs. 5772.39 lakhs
1999-00 Rs. 97.43 lakhs Rs. 1703.88 lakhs
2000-01 Rs. 196.84 lakhs Rs. 1237.37 lakhs
2001-02 Rs. 89.18 lakhs Rs. 4712.74 lakhs
2002-03 Rs 1582.80 lakhs Rs. 2404.00 lakhs
The principal commodities of export from India to Namibia are drugs and pharmaceuticals, inorganic/organic/agro chemicals, glass/glassware, manufactures of metals, machinery & instruments, transport equipment, rubber manufactured products, electronic goods and miscellaneous processed items. The principal commodities of import from Namibia to India are raw wool, fertilizers manufactured and metalliferous ores and metal scrap.
However, according to statistics published by the Central Bureau of Statistics, National Planning Commission, Government of Namibia, the following are the export/import figures:
Exports from India to Namibia:
1999 2000 2001 (Tentative) 2002 (Tentative)
N$ 14.09 million
(Rs. 93.31 million) N$ 19.80 million
(Rs. 131.13 million) N$ 27.78 million
(Rs. 183.97 million) N$ 38.29 million
(Rs. 253.58 million)
Exports from Namibia to India:
1999 2000 2001 (Tentative) 2002 (Tentative)
N$ 1.14 million
(Rs. 7.55 million) N$ 0.99 million
(Rs. 6.56 million) N$ 0.1 million
(Rs. 0.66 million) N$ 0.08 million
(Rs. 0.53 million)
The main commodities of exports from India to Namibia according to Namibian statistics are Inorganic Chemicals; compounds of precious metals etc, organic chemicals, pharmaceutical products, plastics and articles thereof, rubber and articles thereof, articles of leather; saddlery & harness; travel goods etc, printed books, newspapers, pictures etc, articles of apparel, made up textile articles, articles of iron and steel, electrical machinery, vehicle parts, etc. The items of export from Namibia to India, according to Namibian statistics, are used household effects; used personal effects and works of art, collector’s pieces and antiques.
The Namibian Minister of Trade and Industry, accompanied by a 15-member strong delegation visited India at the invitation of CII, for the India Engineering Trade Fair in February 1999, and to attend the first meeting of the Indo-Namibian Joint Trade Committee (JTC), headed by the respective Ministers of Trade and Industry, held in New Delhi on February 15-16, 1999. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the provisions of the Trade Agreement and agreed to cooperate in the fields of electronics and software, small scale industries, agriculture, commercial farming, water resources, railways, energy sector, drugs and pharmaceutical sector, telecommunications, gem stones. The two sides also agreed to increase and diversify bilateral trade. Namibian side has indicated its preference for the 2nd JTC in April 2004.
An agreement between the EXIM Bank of India and the Offshore Development Company (ODC) of Namibia on the US$ 5 million credit line has also been concluded, as a follow up of announcement made during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Vajpayee to Namibia in 1998. However, the utilisation of the Line of Credit has been rather slow, with only US $ 0.5 million out of the US $ 5 million available under the Line of Credit having been used so far, for importation from India of what is stated to be a state-of-the-art printing press in the SADC region, by M/s Democratic Media Holdings Ltd., which is printing the major newspapers of the country. Every year the utilisation period of the Line of Credit is being extended. During the last such extension granted by the Exim Bank towards the end of 2003, the terms of credit have further been liberalised. The Rupee interest rate has been reduced by 1 percentage point to 11% per annum for a credit period of up to 3 years and 11.5% for a credit period of 3 to 5 years. Efforts are continuing to speed up the process of utilising the Line of Credit.

The Namibian Ministry of Trade and Industry has sponsored delegations of emerging businessmen/industrialists, at its cost, to the India International Trade Fair, New Delhi, during 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. The Namibian side is convinced that the Indian technology and equipment are both relevant and appropriate for their needs. However, due to financial constraints faced by Namibian businessmen, this interest has not been translated into actual import of technology and equipment. Namibian business persons have also participated in the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (28 February – 2 March 2004). Senior Government figures have participated in the DEFEXPO (4 – 7 February, 2004), the India – Africa Health Summit (19 – 21 November, 2003) and the India – Africa Summit on Water Partnership (11-12 February 2004). Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy visited India, on a private visit in February 2004, to familiarize himself with our diamond processing sector.

In September 2001, an exhibition titled "Enterprise India 2001" organised by the CII in close cooperation with the Ministry of Trade & Industry of the Government of Namibia was held at Windhoek. 41 Indian companies exhibited their products in the "Enterprise India 2001" exhibition, which provided opportunities for joint ventures and investments. Our Minister of State for Small Scale Industries, Smt.. Vasundhara Raje, was present as a special guest of the Government of Namibia during the inauguration of the exposition.