Walvis promoters find receptive German audience

Leonard Neill GERMAN BUSINESS is very interested in the Walvis Bay import and export logistic opportunity, specifically for Gauteng and increasingly also for southern Angola, says Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) business development executive Frank Gschwender. But potential exporters and importers in that country are not fully aware of the opportunities which exist through Walvis Bay harbour, he said. This follows a business development trip undertaken by a Namibian delegation to the main industrial centres and leading ports in Germany. "We focused our presentations to business forums in Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich on port and corridor facilities," says Gschwender. "These were complemented by visits to the ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven, the Namibian Embassy in Berlin and BMW's head office in Munich. "The trip was organised and co-ordinated by the German Afrika Verein, which is the association of German businesses involved in Africa. Even this audience was not fully aware of the status and opportunities which Walvis Bay offers. "It is clear to us that a concrete follow-up of business contacts and meetings is essential, with continuous promotion of these through our embassy and co-operation with the port of Hamburg and with Afrika Verein. "We must also take part in repeated promotional events in Europe, with active participation in conferences and exhibitions wherever applicable." The main event in Bremen coincided with the inauguration of the Africa Association North, where the Namibian delegation was able to take part in a panel discussion as well as make its presentation to a large gathering. The meeting with the Port of Hamburg furthered the discussion on the twinning of the ports of Walvis Bay and Hamburg, with the latter outlining the scope for potential assistance, specially for promotion and marketing. Training programmes for port technical and management staff through Hamburg Training Institute was also discussed. "During our trip the high performance standards of both MACS (Maritime Carrier Shipping) and Namport were mutually confirmed. WBCG emphasised the importance of optimum shipping services, and advocated service and cost improvements, which MACS agreed to consider." The delegation included Namport chief executive Wessie Wessels, marketing manager Jerome Mouton, chairman of the Namibian Association of Freight Forwarders Norbert Liebich and vice chairman Heino Herrlich.