NCCI engages China on long-term exports

28 April 2010, New Era
URL: http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=10671

Windhoek:  The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), which led a 40-member delegation to China yesterday, would negotiate for long-term exports of Namibian meat products to that country despite a recent scuffle between the two sides.

NCCI Chief Executive Officer, Tarah Shaanika, breathing a sigh of relief after last week’s near snub of Namibian products by the Chinese authorities said negotiations are underway for a long-term export agreement with the Asian economy.

China initially refused to accept Namibian meat and fish to be sold or consumed in its local market, prompting the NCCI to threaten boycotting a planned marketing trip to China ahead of the opening of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, which kicks off on Saturday.

But after concerted efforts at government level between the two countries, the stand-off was solved and the Namibian delegation left the country yesterday as planned.

The current agreement is that Namibian beef, mutton and fish exports may enter the Chinese market during the expo, which stretches to October 31.

The NCCI is, however, adamant that while there is a brief relief over the acceptance of Namibian meat products in China, it would like to see commitment made for a long-term deal.

“We have already taken this issue up with the Chinese authorities and would continue to do so while in China,” Shaanika said.

He echoed his last week’s sentiments that there was a “huge misunderstanding” of the quality of Namibian meat products, but maintains there is “significant progress” made in convincing the Chinese that Namibian products are of high consumable quality.

“We took up the issue with the Chinese and are confident that we would get the desired outcome,” Shaanika told New Era, adding that he is “very happy with progress made last week”.

If the NCCI succeeds, Namibian meat and fish exporters, who are currently holding their breath over the fate of negotiations between government and the European Union (EU) over the so-called Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), would be relieved to find an alternative destination for their exports.

The NCCI says if approved, the long-term export agreement with China would also see Namibian game meat entering that market.