Cabinet approved the minutes of the 7th Session of the Namibia/Zambia Joint Permanent Commission and directed respective Government institutions to implement the decisions of the 7th Session to promote cooperation between Namibia and Zambia.
Namibian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marco Hausiku led the Namibian delegation to the 7th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission that was held in Lusaka, Zambia from 22 to 24 November 2006. 
On Economic and Infrastructure matters, the Commission noted that both countries accepted the draft Terms of Reference for the establishment of a Trade and Investment Committee.  The Commission directed that the first meeting of the Committee must take place not later than February 2007.  The two countries also exchanged draft agreements on the Avoidance of Double Taxation that will be signed in Windhoek in February 2007.  A Memorandum of Understanding on Customs Matters was also prepared for signing in February 2007 in Windhoek.  This will facilitate the creation of a one-stop border post at the Katima Mulilo/Seheke border.
Under Transport and Commu-nication, it was noted that there was a need to amend the Bilateral Air Services Agreement and a review meeting has been scheduled in Windhoek for March 2007.  There was also agreement that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should be urged to actively participate in the Walvis Bay/Ndola/Lubumbashi Development Corridor (WBNDLC).  The Commission also agreed that a meeting should be scheduled before March 2007 to finalise the Terms of Reference of the Joint Plenary Committee of the WBNDLC.  Zambia also informed the Commission that it accepted Namibia’s offer of a dry port facility in Walvis Bay and that UNCTAD is financing the study for the construction of intermodal facilities along the Trans-Caprivi Corridor.  The Committee that was established under the Bilateral Road Transport Agreement will have its first meeting by March 2007.
The supply of electricity to northern Namibia was discussed under Mining and Energy issues and it was noted that the first phase of the project was complete and that the second phase will be completed by December 2006.  The Commission also pledged its full support to the Committee established by Zambia, Namibia and the DRC during the 2004 Copper Forum to coordinate all initiatives related to copper among the three countries.
Under Tourism, Environment and Forestry it was agreed that Zambia should take the lead in creating a sub-committee on Tourism and Environment by the end of 2007.  Namibia will take the lead in convening a meeting to finalise a work plan by the end of 2007 on collaboration in fire fighting management along the common border of the two countries.  It was also agreed that the Okavango-Upper-Zambezi Tourism Initiative (OUZIT) and the Coordinated Aerial Survey of Trans-Boundary Elephant Population should be discussed under SADC.  Namibia and Zambia also agreed that their National Tourism Boards should work out a strategy of cooperation on Joint Tourism Marketing and Promotion and report progress six months before the next session of the Commission. 
Zambia’s signing of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission and Namibia’s request for early warning information on Flood Control Measures on the Upper Zambezi River were discussed under Agriculture and Water Development.  The Commis-sion also learnt that the final report and feasibility study on the Zambia/Namibia Agri-culture Joint Venture Project (ZANAP) was expected by May 2007.
The Commission also agreed to cooperate in areas of fisheries development, social and legal matters, employment and labour, education, sport, art and culture, and on regional and local authority issues, land management and resettlement and in the area of official statistics.