His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba arrived in London on 21 June 2011 to address the annual Africa Business Forum & Awards in his capacity as Chairperson of Southern African Development Community (SADC) organised by the Commonwealth Business Council in conjunction with the SADC Secretariat and SADC High Commissions and Embassies in London. The forum focused on regional integration and showcased investment opportunities in the SADC region.
His Excellency President Pohamba was accompanied by the Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Hage Geingob and Chairperson of SADC Council of Ministers, Ambassador Tuliameni Kalomoh, Special Advisor to the President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, high ranking senior officials as well as a contingent of 25 Namibian business leaders. The Executive Secretary of SADC Dr Augusto Tomaz Salomão also joined the President at the forum.
Whilst in London, President Pohamba held a private audience with His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 21 and 23 June respectively. This was President Pohamba's second visit to Buckingham Palace; the first time was on an Official Visit to the UK in June 2007.
The President and the Duke had wide-ranging discussions aimed at advancing trade and investment between the UK and Namibia. They discussed development challenges facing Namibia and how the British private sector may help complement Namibia's efforts in meeting those challenges particularly in the areas of education, health, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure development.
President Pohamba expressed his appreciation to the Duke for his keen interest in Namibia. The President outlined the strategic vision and the policies implemented by the Government since independence aimed at addressing socio-economic developmental challenges.
The Duke undertook to galvanise the British private sector to engage Namibia in addressing these challenges some of which are inherited legacies of the apartheid era. The Duke offered to engage the British private sector to consider the abundant investment opportunities in mining, energy, agriculture and tourism in Namibia. President Pohamba extended an invitation to the Duke of York to visit Namibia.
Furthermore, Lord Howell and Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office further paid a courtesy call on the President to exchange views on the growing importance of the Commonwealth as well as the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia slated for October 2011.
The visit to London was rounded up by a bilateral meeting between the Minister of Trade and Industry Hon Dr Hage Geingob and Henry Bellingham, UK's Minister for Africa on 23 June. The two Ministers pledged to intensify efforts to increase the £200 million bilateral trade volume between Namibia and the UK. Towards this end, Minister Bellingham informed he will soon be visiting Namibia.
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