In a bid to diversify its export destinations, Namibia had on Thursday, 28th March, 2019 exported its first 21 tonnes of beef to China.
The Namibian meat processing and marketing entity, Meatco Board Chairperson, Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun at a send-off occasion to mark the first exportation of beef to China in the Namibian capital, Windhoek stated that the entity and the nation at large is excited about entering into an alternative market which China.
In her speech Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun stated that, “Despite the challenging times producers are faced with, such as the economy and recurring drought, we would like to commend you the producers for providing us with quality produce.”
At the occasion to mark the first set of export of beef from Namibia to China, the Charge d’Affaires of Chinese Embassy in Namibia, Yang Jun congratulated Namibia as the only African country to export beef to China.
Quoting Yang Jun, he stated that, “This Namibian beef is of high quality,” he said, adding that the export of beef to China is set to further open other potential avenues for business and trade.
According to the Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Alpheus Naruseb, the first consignment is irrefutable proof that the relationship between China and Namibia is one of give and take and is mutually beneficial.
The take off of the exportation of beef to China by Namibia is the off-shoot of the 2016 agreement between China and Namibia to produce an A-grade beef for the vast Asian market, making Namibia the only African country to achieve this feat.
