Allexer Namundjembo
The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) will this week make its first leather export under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Meatco announced that it will dispatch two containers of wet-blue hides from its Okapuka Tannery to Mombasa, Kenya, through the port of Walvis Bay on Thursday.
The hides will be processed into finished leather by a newly secured Kenyan client under a trial arrangement. The shipment will be traded under AfCFTA’s non-tariff provisions and certificate of origin requirements.
Meatco’s interim chief executive officer, Albertus Aochamub, said the export marks an important step forward for both the company and the country.
“This is a significant milestone for Meatco and for Namibia, contributing to the practical implementation of a market valued at USD 3.4 trillion (approximately N$ 58.0 trillion) and representing more than 1.3 billion consumers across the continent,” he said.
He acknowledged the logistical challenges but said progress has been encouraging, noting that Africa’s vast natural resources and stronger intra-African trade can create wealth across the continent.
He added that he is confident more African markets will open, allowing Namibia’s hides to reach wider and more competitive destinations.
Namibia already exports meat products through Meatco to several countries across and beyond the continent.
These markets include South Africa, Norway, the European Union, China and other regions where Namibian beef has built a strong export presence.
Over time, export markets expanded with China, South Africa, Botswana and several countries across Europe, Africa and Asia becoming destinations for beef, hides, skins and game meat.
Demand for game meat grew as strict sanitary controls were developed to meet EU standards.
Despite this progress, the sector still faces challenges, including climate change, global price fluctuations and animal disease outbreaks.
To maintain and strengthen the industry, governments and sector players are focusing on improving logistics, modernising veterinarian systems, and building stronger links between agriculture and tourism.
This will be Namibia’s second export under the AfCFTA. In June, the country made its first official shipment, sending 45,000 tonnes of salt from Walvis Bay to Nigeria.
