All attention will be on Walvis Bay next weekend when the independence celebrations will take place in the harbour town. Leading into the festivities will be the commissioning ceremony of the brand new patrol vessel on Friday, 19 March at 12h00 at the harbour. The minister of fisheries, Dr Abraham Iyambo will name the patrol boat after Mrs Anna Kakurukaze Mungunda, a liberation hero, who was killed during the December 1959 protest of women in the Old Location in Windhoek. The boat was built by Spanish ship builders in Vigo in the Kingdom of Spain and it arrived in Walvis Bay on 29 February. The ministry and its fish inspectors to control illegal fishing in Namibian waters will use it. The vessel is equipped with some of the most advanced and modern technical sea monitoring instruments, according to the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mrs Nangula Mbako. As a special guest of honour, President Sam Nujoma was invited to the ceremony.

The Competition Commission in South Africa granted unconditional approval on last week to Diageo, Heineken and Namibia Breweries to create a joint venture in South Africa for their sales, marketing and distribution businesses. This follows the acquisition by Diageo and Heineken of an effective 28,9% stake in Namibia Breweries Limited last year.

Diageo’s managing director for Africa, David Hampshire said the new venture created an unrivalled portfolio of premium brands and brought together some of the best talent in the industry.

A combined business of this nature holds the potential to bring change to the landscape of the South African market in the beverage sector. Benefits are that Heineken has vast experience and knowledge in the beer sector across the globe and in Africa substantial market share in several African countries for over 50 years. Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of alcohol brands across the spirits, wine and beer categories; and Namibia Breweries is already established as a major player in the growing premium beer segment in Southern Africa, through a well-established portfolio of brands and excellent customer relationships. The company intends accelerating its expansion on the African continent as part of its growth strategy.

Companies in Namibia should seize regional export markets, especially in Angola, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce recommended. It’s CEO, Tarah Shaanika launched a new trade analysis and assessment on Angola, compiled by the NCCI and NEPRU on Monday. He said the chamber was "frustrated" by Namibians firms who adopted a wait and see attitude, instead of making use of the lucrative Angolan market opportunities. Briefing journalists, Shaanika said the problems of bribery and corruption in Angola was now seriously addressed by that government. The trade assessment can be bought for N$ 50 for NCCI members and will cost N$ for non-members. Shaanika said the NCCI would hold a business exchange meeting in Swakopmund during the independence weekend, but declined to disclose details

Barden International, the US black empowerment company, which sold hundreds of Chevrolet pick ups to the Namibian government some years ago at undisclosed prices, will stop selling Chevrolets in Namibia. General Motors (GM) will move in after the relationship with Barden was terminated. GM is also based in the US and manufactures Chevrolets and the once Swedish Saab vehicles. A team of GM managers met Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab on Monday, but brushed questions of journalists away, which had to wait in the passage for the meeting to end. The reason why Barden and GM cold not come to an agreement despite 6 month-long talks, are not known. It is presumed that Delta Motors, whose majority shares were bought up by GM recently, might take over sales and servicing of the Chevrolets.

EXPO CALLED OFF

The special industrial Afmarine maritime and fisheries expo to accompany the independence festivities in Walvis Bay between 18 and 20 March, has been cancelled by the organisers. According to one of the organisers, Anita Schmidt, only 20 exhibitors confirmed their participation, too few to make the event really worthwhile. It was envisaged that the independence celebrations would draw many visitors to Walvis Bay, culminating in the 10th anniversary of the harbour town that was re-integrated into Namibia in February 1994. However, local industries in the harbour town, did not respond as desired to the chance of exhibiting their companies at the Afmarine. From reliable sources, PLUS also learned that a planned fish festival, which the main organising committee for the independence weekend wanted to get off the ground, also had to be cancelled. Now a large reception will be held on Saturday evening, 20th March in the Walvis Bay town hall, with President Sam Nujoma as guest of honour, followed by the celebrations in the sports stadium on Sunday morning, Independence Day.