- Andreas Sheya
The Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Hon. Ipumbu Shiimi, and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Relations and Defence, Hon. Dr Peya Mushelenga, hosted a Finnish delegation led by Hon. Ville Valkonen, Member of the Finnish Parliament, accompanied by Her Excellency Ambassador Katja Kalamäki, Finland’s Ambassador to Namibia. The meeting was also attended by Hon. Salomon April and Hon. Martin Lukato Lukato, members of the Namibia–Finland Friendship Association.
Hon. Ville Valkonen, who grew up in Namibia, expressed Finland’s appreciation for the progress Namibia has made in its development journey and reaffirmed Finland’s commitment to continued cooperation and support. The engagements also provided an opportunity to reflect on the historic ties between Namibia and Finland, including Finland’s longstanding support during Namibia’s liberation struggle.
The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, particularly in the areas of economic cooperation, international relations, investment and other areas of mutual interest including: Strengthening economic cooperation and exploring investment opportunities between Namibia and Finland.; Reigniting discussions on a Double Taxation Agreement to support and encourage investment between the two countries.; Exploring cooperation in the energy sector, including Namibia’s interest in nuclear energy and Finland’s experience in nuclear safety.; Enhancing cooperation on international and geopolitical issues, including the role of smaller nations in the international order.; Strengthening parliamentary cooperation and learning from Finland’s parliamentary friendship groups, particularly its engagement with Africa. Hon. Shiimi emphasised the importance of adding value to Namibia’s natural resources locally, stating: “Our desire is to have the processing of critical raw materials done here, hence the need to leverage such cordial partnerships to help curb unemployment and increase the buying power of our citizens for dignified livelihoods.”
The Finnish Ambassador also extended an invitation for further engagement with the Parliamentary Association, highlighting its importance as a platform for dialogue, identifying opportunities and fostering closer partnerships in areas of mutual interest. Hon. Dr Mushelenga underscored that Parliament has an important responsibility to complement the role of Government through parliamentary diplomacy and international engagement. This meeting reaffirmed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and international cooperation in strengthening the longstanding Namibia–Finland relationship and creating opportunities for both countries to work together towards shared development goals.
