Namibian President Stresses Regional Cooperation on Botswana Visit
July 14, 16
(IDEX Online News) – On his first official visit to Botswana, Namibian president Hage Geingob said that countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should make Botswana a regional diamond hub, according to a report on AllAfrica.com.
The president was joined on his two-day state visit by several cabinet ministers, including Mines and Energy Minister Obeth Kandjoze.
Geingob told Namibian reporters that he was impressed with their southern African neighbor’s diamond industry. In 2015, Namibia sold N$14.3 billion ($1 billion) worth of diamonds to Botswana. “Of course they are benefiting more than us [from the diamond trade], but as a regional hub we are also benefiting. Geingob also suggested that diamond producing nations in the same region should build up a robust and diversified regional diamond hub.
Namibia and Botswana are involved in several cross-border projects, including a railway line to export Botswana coal to world markets via Namibia. The countries are also working on the Trans-Kalahari highway, which has seen an increased number of visitors from Botswana traveling to Namibia.