The Swedish Trade Council makes it easier for Swedish companies to establish their business themselves abroad. Its presence in Namibia is financed through a cooperation with Sida within the framework for participant cooperation.
The concept is called MeetingPoint and its purpose is to create opportunities for Swedish and Namibian companies and organizations to meet. Together, they can develop company relations – the main focus is on building long-term sustainable economic relations between Swedish and Namibian parties.
Ulf Ekdahl, programme manager with responsibility for participant cooperation in Namibia at Sida, says: “Sida’s contribution means that the Swedish Trade Council can establish itself in this growth market earlier than usual. The idea is to work for increased trade between the countries in both directions.”
The operations within MeetingPoint are partly financed by Sida within the framework for the participant-driven cooperation. In the long term, they will be financed internally.
Basis for good relations
MeetingPoint in Namibia represents an opportunity for the Swedish Trade Council to establish itself, build knowledge of the market and broaden its networks. It provides better conditions with which to support commercial relations.
The Swedish Trade Council’s efforts in Namibia aim to actively gather ideas and stimulate and drive processes within areas of interest to trade and industry. These efforts can relate to transport, trade, traffic safety, ICT, mining, energy, and environmental and climate issues.
To achieve the targets, a series of network-building activities are underway, including seminars, workshops, trade delegations and conferences. Interested parties from the mining industry were recently invited together with MeetingPoint in Botswana. There is interest in beginning a co-operation within the mining industry from both sides.
