WALVIS Bay and Pointe-Noire of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have on Tuesday signed an inter-municipal relationship agreement which officially proclaims them as 'friendship towns'.
The agreement was made official by Walvis Bay mayor Alderman Immanuel Wilfried, and a delegation from DRC led by Pointe-Noire's chair of the regional and municipal council, mayor and parliamentarian, Jean Francois Kando, during the latter's two-day visit to Walvis Bay.
Earlier this year, Wilfried led a delegation to Pointe-Noire with the aim of establishing common interests as well as assessing how inter-city cooperation for the benefit of the two communities could be built.
According to Wilfried, through this friendship agreement, the municipality of Walvis Bay hopes that the prospects of investment opportunities can be created for the mutual benefit of both municipalities.
“Namibia and the DRC have a very long history and signing this agreement with Pointe-Noire will allow us to foster and strengthen our relationship further,” Wilfried said.
“It is indeed important that good relations with various countries be established because often we share the same challenges and sharing plans can accelerate growth and development in our respective countries,” he added.
Wilfried further said these kinds of agreements will encourage local businesses and organisations to start engaging with counterparts in these countries to reap the necessary benefits.
Meanwhile, Kando expressed confidence that the relationship his town will establish with Walvis Bay will be mutually beneficial.
“This agreement is within the cooperation frameworks that exist between Namibia and DRC as this relationship predates even before Namibia's independence,” Kando added.
Earlier this year, the Autonomous Port Authority of Pointe-Noire visited the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) in Walvis Bay to sign a memorandum of understanding between the two ports.
The delegation from DRC is expected to visit Namport, a local fish factory, the salt factory and tour informal markets in Walvis Bay, before departing for Windhoek on Thursday.– Nampa
SOURCE: The Namibian
https://www.namibian.com.na/84111/read/Walvis-Bay-Pointe-Noire-sign-friendship-agreement
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