Groundwork laid for Namibia to become preferred logistics hub

Investment in the ports of
Walvis Bay and Lüderitz
Bay by the Namibian Port
Authority Namport (Namport)
is laying the foundations for the
development of the country as a
major logistics hub.
But for the ports, industrial
zones and
corridors to
attract cargo
there needs to
be additional
investment by the
private sector and
other state-owned
organisations
such as
TransNamib (rail)
and the Namibian
Roads Authority,
says Bisey Uirab,
chief executive
officer of Namport.
The groundwork has been laid
for Namibia to realise its vision of
being the preferred logistics hub
for its land-locked neighbours, but
“there is a long way to go,” he told
FTW.
One of the priorities is the
upgrading and extension
of Namibia’s 2 300-km rail
infrastructure.
There are plans to link the port
of Walvis Bay to the Copperbelt
by rail, and to complete the link
between Lüderitz Bay and the
South African rail system.
“Government is giving serious
attention to rail. They understand
that there needs to be a close
relationship
between the port
and rail,” he says.
In addition
to the physical
infrastructure
the logistics
hub needs to be
supported by
the full range of
logistics services,
including
banking and
insurance.
Reliable highspeed
data links need to be in
place, and the security of staff and
cargo needs to continue to be a
high priority he adds.
And the cities surrounding the
ports and logistics hubs need to
be attractive places to live and for
people to raise their families.
“There are many variables that
people consider before investing in
a country or region – and all have
to be strengths,” he says.
Most of the basics are already
in place, and Namport is working
closely with both the government
entities and the private sector in
order to raise efficiencies and to
“become a real international player”
in the field of logistics, he says.
A critical element to the success
is the support of government,
which has to create the enabling
environment through legislation
and guiding the investment
decisions of parastatals.
“Namport strategy is informed
by the national strategy. All our
plans support the national strategy
of making Namibia a competitive
SADC logistics hub,” he says.
Uirab believes one of the
biggest challenges is maintaining
momentum before the big
volumes start flowing and valueadding
logistics hubs become
operational.
“It is a chicken and egg
situation,” he
says. Shipping
lines will call if
there is cargo
– and there
will be cargo
only if a costcompetitive
and reliable logistics value chain is
in place.
“We believe that we can provide
solutions to the land-locked countries
and to Gauteng.
“The Namibian ports should be
seen as complementary to the other
ports serving southern Africa, with
the objective of making the whole
region attractive to investors.
“We have to tell everyone that
southern Africa is a region that is
pregnant with opportunities,” he
says.
INSERT & CAPTION
Government is giving
serious attention to rail.
They understand that
there needs to be a close
relationship between the
port and rail.
– Bisey Uirab