Uranium rich Namibia wants Lanka's apparel expertise

Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka Rishad Bathiudeen, discussed bilateral trade with the new High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to Colombo, Samuel K. Mbambo.

Namibia, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, is keen to leverage Sri Lanka's apparel and rice cultivation successes. "We are now starting to develop our apparel sector and the rice farming sector. We are eager for tech and know-how support from Sri Lanka given the country's successes in them" said high commissioner Mbambo.

According to the Department of Commerce, the value of total trade between the two countries was $ 0.07 m in 2006 it increased to $0.08 m in 2010. The balance of trade has been in favour of Sri Lanka except in 2006 and 2010. The $ 12 b economy is projected to grow 4.4 percent in 2011. Tea and live fish are Sri Lanka's main export items to Namibia.

"We invite Namibian businesses and industries to invest in the new economic resurgence in Sri Lanka. We are now past three decades of terrorism and have entered the new economic upswing. Our growth forecast for 2012 is 7.2 percent , a very high rate in the current recession climate. The low trade between Sri Lanka and Namibia show that there's enormous untapped bilateral trade potential between us and I believe that the time has come to renew our trade ties" the Minister said.

"We can assist Namibia to gain the essential skills in apparels and paddy cultivation" said Minister Bathiudeen. "Our paddy cultivation has a historic background with Sri Lanka's staple food being rice and our ancient farmers produced special rice variants for use by our former Kings. Our paddy is harvested in two different cycles every year. We are self-sufficient in rice with a self-sufficiency rate of 112percent. The 2011 paddy production is estimated at 90 million bushels. We can help Namibia with regard to pre and post-harvesting technologies and also irrigation methods focused on water conservation" Minister Bathiudeen said.

"As for apparel, we are the world's first ethical apparel sourcing destination. In 2011 December alone, our apparel exports in all forms stood at $ 369.4 m with an annual total export value for the same year at $ 4039 m. Our apparel is now supplied to top international labels such as Marks and Spencer, Victoria's Secret, House of Frazer, Diesel, Hand M and SUZI Chin. We believe that Namibia can also leverage our apparel know-how and we are ready to assist in this regard too" Minister Bathiudeen said and added: "We are also keen to tap Namibia's mining know-how. I am pleased to observe that Namibia encouraging its rare metal exports in raw form."

"The Namibian economy is structured mainly on mining which is about 25 percent of our revenues. The industries and farming sector, which are the next important sectors, needs to be upgraded and expanded. We are looking for international expertise apparels and rice farming to diversify these sectors.

We believe Sri Lanka can help us, " Mbambo said. "And we also like Sri Lanka's economic and political stability which encourages us to forge new trade relations" he said.