An inclusive Namibian digital cross-border trade blueprint
OPINION
Launched in 2016 in Hangzhou, China, eWTP is a private sector-led stakeholder initiative to promote public-private collaboration and dialogue in support of inclusive global trade.
The eWTP has been working with partners to share experiences, deploy advanced technology and policy consultation in support of global trade. By doing so, the eWTP seeks to support SMEs all over the world to participate meaningfully in the global economy and online trade.
Learning from China will benefit emerging developing economies who want to digitalise and leverage China's e-commerce business models to develop their own cross-border trade by investing in logistics facilities and establishing sustainable public services.
The dynamic comparative advantage of joining the Alibaba joint venture agreement with countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia has enabled them to apply highly digitalised effective customs clearance processes and high overseas revenue generation, reducing the average time for the cross-border clearance process in both countries.
Business forums
Africa, which has already been trading with China, has the best opportunity to leverage cross-border trade through business forum initiatives such as FOCAC.
Namibia and China held their high-level bilateral business forum last year, where discussions were mainly tailored to investment, tourism and infrastructure development, among others.
Namibia's local business community must reciprocate its trade cooperation by focusing on setting up sustainable business solutions for the Chinese consumer market and taking part in the supply value chain of export products to China.
Namibians can then introduce these into China's e-commerce ecosystem platforms and become business owners, creating new frontiers of job opportunities and wealth creation.
These business forums serve as important platforms to explore avenues of cooperation for sustainable development, especially for Africa's free trade area project.
Digital economy
Enabling e-commerce initiatives in Namibia will give stakeholders a clearer understanding of global trade.
SMEs can benefit from a series of preferential policies provided by eWTP in areas including customs clearance, global training programmes, settlement exchanges and tax refunds.
It is envisioned that the establishment of digital free special economic trade zones is a key strategic economic development where small and medium-sized enterprises can easily access global trade via e-commerce. The zones would offer simple and straightforward regulations, lower barriers for entry into new markets and provide SMEs with easier access to financing. Digital free trade zones are an important milestone in cross-border trade, as they enable direct data connection with customs, making the entire process more traceable and interconnected than the traditional B2B trade and logistics.
Call to action
The Namibian trade board, line ministries and both embassies should establish a memorandum of understanding and conduct a feasibility study to collaborate effectively with Alibaba so that the country can join the eWTP like Rwanda and Ethiopia.
As a graduate scholar of the Namibian Presidential Revitalisation Plan in China, my team and I are serious about spearheading this idea with relevant key stakeholders.
Our goal is to advocate and support the development of e-commerce education, nurture skill sets that will accelerate Namibia's vision to become also a digital hub and foster a generation of talented and passionate young entrepreneurs who can help bring new innovations, create job opportunities and transform the global commerce landscape in the country.
*Willy Munenguni is an Internet of Things technician and graduate scholar of the Namibian Presidential Revitalisation Plan in Jiangsu, China.
- Due to space constraints, this article has been edited for length.
The eWTP has been working with partners to share experiences, deploy advanced technology and policy consultation in support of global trade. By doing so, the eWTP seeks to support SMEs all over the world to participate meaningfully in the global economy and online trade.
Learning from China will benefit emerging developing economies who want to digitalise and leverage China's e-commerce business models to develop their own cross-border trade by investing in logistics facilities and establishing sustainable public services.
The dynamic comparative advantage of joining the Alibaba joint venture agreement with countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia has enabled them to apply highly digitalised effective customs clearance processes and high overseas revenue generation, reducing the average time for the cross-border clearance process in both countries.
Business forums
Africa, which has already been trading with China, has the best opportunity to leverage cross-border trade through business forum initiatives such as FOCAC.
Namibia and China held their high-level bilateral business forum last year, where discussions were mainly tailored to investment, tourism and infrastructure development, among others.
Namibia's local business community must reciprocate its trade cooperation by focusing on setting up sustainable business solutions for the Chinese consumer market and taking part in the supply value chain of export products to China.
Namibians can then introduce these into China's e-commerce ecosystem platforms and become business owners, creating new frontiers of job opportunities and wealth creation.
These business forums serve as important platforms to explore avenues of cooperation for sustainable development, especially for Africa's free trade area project.
Digital economy
Enabling e-commerce initiatives in Namibia will give stakeholders a clearer understanding of global trade.
SMEs can benefit from a series of preferential policies provided by eWTP in areas including customs clearance, global training programmes, settlement exchanges and tax refunds.
It is envisioned that the establishment of digital free special economic trade zones is a key strategic economic development where small and medium-sized enterprises can easily access global trade via e-commerce. The zones would offer simple and straightforward regulations, lower barriers for entry into new markets and provide SMEs with easier access to financing. Digital free trade zones are an important milestone in cross-border trade, as they enable direct data connection with customs, making the entire process more traceable and interconnected than the traditional B2B trade and logistics.
Call to action
The Namibian trade board, line ministries and both embassies should establish a memorandum of understanding and conduct a feasibility study to collaborate effectively with Alibaba so that the country can join the eWTP like Rwanda and Ethiopia.
As a graduate scholar of the Namibian Presidential Revitalisation Plan in China, my team and I are serious about spearheading this idea with relevant key stakeholders.
Our goal is to advocate and support the development of e-commerce education, nurture skill sets that will accelerate Namibia's vision to become also a digital hub and foster a generation of talented and passionate young entrepreneurs who can help bring new innovations, create job opportunities and transform the global commerce landscape in the country.
*Willy Munenguni is an Internet of Things technician and graduate scholar of the Namibian Presidential Revitalisation Plan in Jiangsu, China.
- Due to space constraints, this article has been edited for length.
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