Trade forum wants Namibian arts to go global

The country’s trade promotion agency says there is a need to bolster the promotion of Namibian arts in order to take their place in the international arena.This was the stance of the Namibia Trade Forum (NTF) during a public-private dialogue with authors, publishers and public institutions on Friday, where they showcased authentic Namibian pieces and discussed how to integrate into the global market.Great storiesNTF CEO Stacey Pinto on Friday said when discussing trade strategies through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Namibian goods, local authors are often overlooked and should be marketed the same as livestock trade would."We often think and discuss ways how to export products like beef from Namibia to other countries, but sometimes we overlook the value that lies in selling our authentic African stories and what kind of industry and potential that unlocks for our authors," Pinto said. "Namibia has great stories to tell, and this dialogue will aid in meeting and talking to Namibian authors and writers and finding out from a policy perspective how we can start promoting Namibian pieces not only in Africa but globally," she added.In 2021, the industrialisation and trade ministry, through the NTF and various other partners, launched the &#039;Buy Local, Grow Namibia&#039; campaign, which aims to create a "thriving local market by maximising the potential of local businesses and increasing their market share".Global visibility At the occasion, the deputy minister of youth and sports, Emma Kantema-Gaomas, encouraged local authors to "engage in the AfCFTA by identifying opportunities and securing their place in the value chain, contributing to the sustainability of our economy."She underlined that the industrialisation and trade ministry recently launched the National Bar Code system, a key advancement for global recognition of Namibian products."The system, marking products with a distinct 631 prefix, will boost Namibia&#039;s export efforts by distinguishing its goods in the international market. This initiative is set to increase Namibia&#039;s global trade visibility and reinforce its export capabilities.”Rallying cry She said &#039;Buy Local, Grow Namibia&#039; "is not just a campaign. It is a rallying cry for us to harness our own resources, recognise our own talents, and cultivate our own intellectual wealth".She added that all stakeholders involved should strive to bridge the gap between local products and literary pieces and the global market.Pinto highlighted that the dialogue would assist parties in collecting input for the forum to submit and allow policymakers to get involved."This will create room for policymakers to be able to take decisions and policy measures that improve market access-related issues for Namibian authors and literary books," Pinto said.

Trade forum wants Namibian arts to go global

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-25

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Trade forum wants Namibian arts to go global

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-25

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