Brazilian interest in
using Walvis Bay as
a gateway to trade
with the Southern
African Development
Community (SADC) has
grown since the Walvis Bay
Corridor Group (WBCG)
has opened an office in the
South American country.
A recent visit by three
Brazilian companies is to be
followed by another business
delegation in November this
year, according to Ricardo
Latkani, WBCG business
development representative
in Sao Paulo.
“As Walvis Bay provides
the shortest link to connect
the massive Brazilian
economy to the Southern
African market, it is logical
that economic partnerships
are on the horizon,” he said
after meetings between
representatives of three
Brazilian companies
and their Namibian
counterparts.
“With Brazil being
the closest and most
industrialised international
market by sea to the
SADC region, it offers a
lot of opportunities for our
logistics hub initiative,” adds
WBCG CEO, Johny Smith.
Brazil’s main container
port Santos is seven days'
sailing from Walvis Bay.
The WBCG is working
with shipping companies
and importers and exporters
to establish regular direct
services.
“As we pick up traction
on the Namibian logistics
hub concept, international
interest in this gateway into
southern Africa continues to
build,” says Smith.
The Brazilian companies
are looking at both exports
and imports.
Zaltana Pescados is
interested in importing
Namibian hake to Brazil and
exporting fresh water fish to
SADC, according to Latkani.
“The second Brazilian
company, Enaex Britanite,
is looking into possibilities
to set up warehousing for
mining detonators and
explosives and investing
in infrastructure projects.
The third company, Teccoil,
expressed an interest in
establishing assembly lines
for alternators and engine
starter motors respectively,”
says Smith.
These opportunities are
aligned with a regional
industrial value chain
initiative that WBCG
is working on through
a Namibian Spatial
Development Initiative
(SDI), according to Smith.
CAPTION
Brazilians on a fact-finding mission to Walvis Bay: Bruno Leite
– CEO of Zaltana Pescados, Ricardo Latkani – WBCG business
development representative in Brazil, Uilson Oliveira – owner of
Teccoil, and Carlos Duque – general director of Enaex Britanite.
