The annual trade fair at Ongwediva will be held from 25 August to 3 September this year. A public holiday, Heroes’ Day on 26 August adds to the popularity of the fair. During a fundraising dinner held last weekend at the large exhibition hall, some N$140 000 were raised to cover organisational costs, mainly donated by parastatals and banks as well as the Windhoek City Council, according tom the organisers. The show, which has only been in existence for a few years, has expanded tremendously and virtually all government ministries and parastatals exhibit there. Ironically, this is slowing down the economic life and government activities in Windhoek during the duration of the Ongwediva trade fair as all activities seem to take place at Ongwediva.

The National Planning Commission (NPC) met with representatives of the UN Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) in Windhoek on Tuesday to review the cooperation and to discuss a new cooperation phase to cover the period from 2006 to 2010. The meeting discussed resources mobilised so far and successe and constraints to address programmes like young children’s health, care and development, adolescents’ HIV prevention, special Protection and disparity reduction and the cross-sectoral Issues. The findings of this assessment will be an input into the next country programme. The new programme will be guided by the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and directly contribute to the targets laid out in the Millennium Development Goals to be reached by 2015 and Vision 2030.

A "Fish for All Summit" organised by NEPAD will be held in Abuja, Nigeria from 22 to 25 August 2005. The main objective of the summit is to draw global attention to the vital role of fisheries and agriculture in Africa’s development agenda. The summit is expected to come up with the Abuja Declaration on African Fisheries, a revised NEPAD companion document on fisheries, and the NEPAD Strategy and Action Plan for Research and Capacity Building in African Fisheries. The events will include a two-day technical symposium, an Africa Fisheries Exhibition and a Head of State Summit. Namibia will also send a delegation of fish experts to Abuja.

The South African Revenue Services (SAID) announced that as from 1 September 2005, it will implement a unified customs declaration form for goods at all border posts to neighbouring countries including Namibia. The all-in-one administrative document is meant to simplify regional trade. The document will be used at the border post Vioolsdrift and Nakop as well as at the International Airport in Cape Town as from next month.

In a circular, the Namibia Agricultural Uniona (NAU) said this form is already in use at the Skilpadshek border post at the Transkalahari Corridor since August 2004. According to SAID to facilitate traders, a grace period of 2 months will be allowed to phase out the current CCA1 forms. This new form is applicable on all goods which are destined for Namibia and Botswana.