Presidency defends Geingob’s foreign trips
Hengari says travels have benefitted Namibia
State House has hit out at the scrutiny of the president's frequent foreign trips, whose benefits seem blurry.
State House yesterday defended President Hage Geingob’s foreign travels, saying they have brought great benefits to the country.
The president’s extensive travels have sparked media reports since his first term when, as reported by The Namibian in 2016, he travelled to 12 cities – averaging a foreign trip per month.
In 2015, he was said to have earned N$2.4 million in travel expenses in a space of eight months, having travelled to 19 cities. In 2018, he travelled 16 times.
In recent months, Geingob’s travels have come under scrutiny again, with questions raised on whether the costly overseas expeditions are beneficial to the country.
This is particularly so in light of lack of notable investment in a country ravaged by high unemployment and poverty rates. Youth unemployment in Namibia is predicted to be about 50% at the moment – with new graduates crowding streets every month.
Geingob’s press secretary Dr Alfredo Hengari, in a statement yesterday, said the trips have unlocked significant investment opportunities for Namibia. Recent travels by the president include two trips to Qatar, to the World Economic Forum Summit in Davos, Switzerland, and attendance at the 2020 Expo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to Hengari, it was important for Geingob to travel as head of state to interact, negotiate and conclude agreements with foreign governments.
“Through the economic diplomacies of the president, Namibia has unlocked tangible benefits, which will guarantee the prosperity of Namibia,” he said.
Proposals
According to him, after a comprehensive global market sounding exercise, Namibia received nine proposals from six developers to build a US$10 billion green hydrogen and ammonia facility in the //Karas Region.
“If successfully concluded, this will be the single largest foreign direct investment in Namibia’s history,” he said.
“The offer received was preceded by significant engagements on the international area by the Namibian presidency to raise awareness about Namibia as the ideal location to manufacture green molecules."
'Necessity, not want'
“Following extensive interactions between Geingob and the Emir of Qatar in February, the Qatar Investment Authority, which boasts assets in excess of US$300 billion, visited Namibia in May, and expressed an interest to invest in transport- and logistics-related infrastructure, tourism enterprises and the agricultural sector,” Hengari said.
“Through the Qatar Investment Authority-backed Kasada Capital Management, Qatar has recently acquired Hotel Safari through a US$2.6 billion facility granted by the International Finance Corporation,” he said.
The travels on Geingob’s part were spurred by necessity and not out of want, the president’s spokesperson insisted.
“In the realm of foreign policy, where the president - as per the constitution - interacts, negotiates and concludes agreements with foreign governments, the nexus between the domestic and the external are two sides of the same coin. Namibia is not an island.”
“Our socio-economic development and prosperity as a country depend on the strength of our political and economic partnerships,” he added.
The president’s extensive travels have sparked media reports since his first term when, as reported by The Namibian in 2016, he travelled to 12 cities – averaging a foreign trip per month.
In 2015, he was said to have earned N$2.4 million in travel expenses in a space of eight months, having travelled to 19 cities. In 2018, he travelled 16 times.
In recent months, Geingob’s travels have come under scrutiny again, with questions raised on whether the costly overseas expeditions are beneficial to the country.
This is particularly so in light of lack of notable investment in a country ravaged by high unemployment and poverty rates. Youth unemployment in Namibia is predicted to be about 50% at the moment – with new graduates crowding streets every month.
Geingob’s press secretary Dr Alfredo Hengari, in a statement yesterday, said the trips have unlocked significant investment opportunities for Namibia. Recent travels by the president include two trips to Qatar, to the World Economic Forum Summit in Davos, Switzerland, and attendance at the 2020 Expo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to Hengari, it was important for Geingob to travel as head of state to interact, negotiate and conclude agreements with foreign governments.
“Through the economic diplomacies of the president, Namibia has unlocked tangible benefits, which will guarantee the prosperity of Namibia,” he said.
Proposals
According to him, after a comprehensive global market sounding exercise, Namibia received nine proposals from six developers to build a US$10 billion green hydrogen and ammonia facility in the //Karas Region.
“If successfully concluded, this will be the single largest foreign direct investment in Namibia’s history,” he said.
“The offer received was preceded by significant engagements on the international area by the Namibian presidency to raise awareness about Namibia as the ideal location to manufacture green molecules."
'Necessity, not want'
“Following extensive interactions between Geingob and the Emir of Qatar in February, the Qatar Investment Authority, which boasts assets in excess of US$300 billion, visited Namibia in May, and expressed an interest to invest in transport- and logistics-related infrastructure, tourism enterprises and the agricultural sector,” Hengari said.
“Through the Qatar Investment Authority-backed Kasada Capital Management, Qatar has recently acquired Hotel Safari through a US$2.6 billion facility granted by the International Finance Corporation,” he said.
The travels on Geingob’s part were spurred by necessity and not out of want, the president’s spokesperson insisted.
“In the realm of foreign policy, where the president - as per the constitution - interacts, negotiates and concludes agreements with foreign governments, the nexus between the domestic and the external are two sides of the same coin. Namibia is not an island.”
“Our socio-economic development and prosperity as a country depend on the strength of our political and economic partnerships,” he added.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article