Cautious Geingob ‘eager to work with Germany’
President Hage Geingob yesterday stressed that Namibia is governed by the rule of law and the Namibian Constitution.
This after he welcomed a large German delegation, led by that country’s economics and climate action minister Robert Habeck, in search of opportunities in Namibia’s infant green hydrogen sector.
Geingob told delegates that the country is not operated as a ‘one-man show’, referring to himself, but that there are processes, systems and institutions that guide the work of government.
“I can promise you that our courts are very independent. We have lost many cases, this government. So, that is how I want to welcome you, so that you know the level of these institutions and that we are a country that is governed by law,” he said.
Geingob met several high-level personalities at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, this year, including Habeck - with whom he discussed new ways to do business and to create new energy resources.
Despite his cautions, the president said Namibia is optimistic about working with Germany.
Collaboration
Habeck said Germany's interest is foremost energy, but, most importantly, that Namibia has access to clean energy. They signed several agreements that encompass investments in education and for the creation of jobs in the green hydrogen sector, he said.
“This is a matter of collaboration with Namibia, finding new ways of collaboration because of our history and what comes out of that.
“The centre of our discussion was green energy for Namibia, [for] your people to have a reliable and cheap energy system, and also we are interested in export maybe to Germany as well.
“The first thing that I want to hear is that Namibia has clean and affordable energy and if you have energy to spend, then there is a European interest,” he said.
Agreements signed
The two countries also signed an agreement on a competition commission, which - according to Habeck - is important to strengthen to ensure a firm cooperation that gives everyone a fair chance in the sector.
Another agreement signed was a memorandum of understanding between the University of Namibia (Unam) and Hochschule Anhalt, a university of applied sciences. The agreement will provide funding for postgraduate students to upscale themselves in Namibia and Germany.
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This after he welcomed a large German delegation, led by that country’s economics and climate action minister Robert Habeck, in search of opportunities in Namibia’s infant green hydrogen sector.
Geingob told delegates that the country is not operated as a ‘one-man show’, referring to himself, but that there are processes, systems and institutions that guide the work of government.
“I can promise you that our courts are very independent. We have lost many cases, this government. So, that is how I want to welcome you, so that you know the level of these institutions and that we are a country that is governed by law,” he said.
Geingob met several high-level personalities at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, this year, including Habeck - with whom he discussed new ways to do business and to create new energy resources.
Despite his cautions, the president said Namibia is optimistic about working with Germany.
Collaboration
Habeck said Germany's interest is foremost energy, but, most importantly, that Namibia has access to clean energy. They signed several agreements that encompass investments in education and for the creation of jobs in the green hydrogen sector, he said.
“This is a matter of collaboration with Namibia, finding new ways of collaboration because of our history and what comes out of that.
“The centre of our discussion was green energy for Namibia, [for] your people to have a reliable and cheap energy system, and also we are interested in export maybe to Germany as well.
“The first thing that I want to hear is that Namibia has clean and affordable energy and if you have energy to spend, then there is a European interest,” he said.
Agreements signed
The two countries also signed an agreement on a competition commission, which - according to Habeck - is important to strengthen to ensure a firm cooperation that gives everyone a fair chance in the sector.
Another agreement signed was a memorandum of understanding between the University of Namibia (Unam) and Hochschule Anhalt, a university of applied sciences. The agreement will provide funding for postgraduate students to upscale themselves in Namibia and Germany.
[email protected]
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