WALVIS BAY - Namibian Ports Authority (NamPort) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bisey Uirab, says his company is ever ready to assist hinterland countries gain access to Walvis Bay port – as doing so will be in the common interest of the regional economic grouping of which Namibia is a member.

NamPort has an obligation as an institution of the government to make available space for landlocked countries in the region to obtain dry ports within the perimeters of NamPort for the purpose of importing and exporting of their goods.

Uirab made the remarks at a dinner held on Thursday in honour of the Board members of the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA) who met at Walvis Bay from last week Thursday to Friday.

 “The work of Namport is not only meant for Namibians, but to service all of Southern Africa. Thus, as a public institution put in place by the Namibian government, we are committed to rendering quality services to the entire Southern African region,” Uirab said.

“I believe that when resources are God-given, they must be shared with the rest of the region,” the CEO added.

He explained that in collaboration with the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), the WBCG is also represented in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and South Africa (Johannesburg) in order to promote the work of Namport and what they can offer.

Namport has availed land to Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe to use as dry – ports further facilitating smoother exports and lessen import times – as the port of Walvis Bay continues to draw customers due to its proximity with the Eurozone and Northern and Southern American Territories.

According to Uirab, flow of goods especially between Zambia and Namibia has grown tremendously and  the copper industry in Zambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo can make use of the port of Walvis Bay to export or import.