VZCZCXRO4262
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHWD #0064/01 0211645
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211644Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0120
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 WINDHOEK 000064 
 
SIPDIS 
EEB/CBA - DENNIS A. WINSTEAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP ECON EINV ETRD BTIO WA
SUBJECT: Namibia: 2010 Business Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) 
Proposal 
 
REF: 09 STATE 126674 
 
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Summary 
 
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¶1. (U) Embassy Windhoek is pleased to submit its 2010 Business 
Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) request. Post has identified two 
priorities for 2010 BFIF funding: 
 
 
 
     (1) $6494 - Local Trade Fair Participation 
 
     (2) $3500 - Training for Locally Engaged Staff (LES) 
 
 
 
Both items will support the third goal in Embassy Windhoek's 
Mission Strategic Plan (MSP) which is to promote Namibian economic 
growth and prosperity through "increased regional and bilateral 
trade . . . [by] showcasing trade opportunities under AGOA, Buy 
USA, and USAID's regional trade hub services, and encourage U.S. 
and Namibian private sector exchanges."  End Summary. 
 
 
 
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2009 BFIF Activity 
 
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¶2. (U) With BFIF funding in 2009, Post economic and commercial 
officer (econoff) and the locally engaged economic and commercial 
assistant attended the Regional CS-State Commercial Training 
sponsored by FCS Johannesburg February 17-20.  Following the 
training, Embassy Windhoek signed on to the Post Partnership 
Programs (PPP) established under the joint State-Commercial Service 
Memorandum of Understanding.  Following Post's joining the PPP, we 
have successfully delivered on one Gold Key and ensured Namibian 
participation in an International Buyer Program (IBP).  Post has 
been active in promoting business opportunities in Namibia by 
sending trade leads to FCS in South Africa and the Corporate 
Council for Africa (CCA).  Post's trade lead system was highlighted 
during the 2009 regional CS-State Commercial Training as a best 
practice.  Post maintains an excellent working relationship with 
FCS in South Africa and has also worked closely with USTDA. 
 
 
 
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Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) Proposal 
 
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¶3. (U) Embassy Windhoek has signed up to participate in the 2010 
Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), which will take place August 27 
to September 4.  The OATF is the preeminent business/trade show for 
the north of Namibia, the region of the country that is home to 
over 50 percent of population.  Ongwediva is also very close to 
Angola so domestic and foreign companies are increasingly 
interested in setting up retail and other operations to service the 
Angolan market.   The 2008 fair attracted 480 exhibitors including 
companies and trade promotion organizations from Botswana, China, 
Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, 
Tanzania and Zimbabwe. 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) The Embassy has sponsored a booth in previous years, but the 
booths have focused on the breadth of Mission activities, rather 
than primarily on doing business with the United States.  For the 
2010 OATF, post plans to sponsor a booth focused on the theme 
"Doing Business With the U.S.".  Post plans to staff and/or fill 
the booth with materials from FCS, USTDA, the Southern Africa 
Competiveness Trade Hub, EXIM, OPIC, USDA, and other U.S. 
organizations, plus information on AGOA as well as links to 
prominent U.S. equipment and material supply companies (e.g. Thomas 
 
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Register and Hoover's online). 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) To ensure the widest possible U.S. commercial participation 
at the OATF, Post has reached out to other USG agencies to support 
our effort.  FCS/ South Africa has agreed to send one (and possibly 
two) representatives.  Jason Nagy from USTDA's regional office in 
South Africa has indicated he may also be able to attend.  In 
addition, the USAID-sponsored Southern Africa Competiveness Trade 
Hub has offered to contribute staff and materials. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) Post is also working to generate private sector interest in 
the OATF.  On January 28, Ambassador Mathieu will participate in a 
three-way Digital Video Conference with FCS South Africa and the 
Corporate Council on Africa (CCA).  FCS South Africa has invited 
members of the South African American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) 
to attend.   Namibia does not have an AmCham, given the small 
number of American companies present in Namibia.  Nevertheless, 
given the close economic/commercial ties between South Africa and 
Namibia, participation at the OATF by the South African AmCham 
makes sense.  In addition, some CCA members have expressed interest 
in attending the OATF.  Post also will prominently display 
information on the OATF on the CS Namibia website which is 
currently in design. 
 
¶7. (U) Post requests the following funding to cover part of the 
Embassy's participation in OATF: 
 
 
 
  $ 650 Space rental (9 sq m) in main pavilion 
 
  $ 500 Internet Connectivity at the OATF 
 
  $3040 Lodging 8 nights x 4 people 
 
  $2304 M&IE 8 days x 4 people 
 
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  $6494 Total cost to be covered by BFIF 
 
 
 
 
 
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Training for Locally Engaged Staff (LES) Proposal 
 
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¶8.  (U) As Embassy Windhoek becomes more engaged in commercial 
advocacy, the training of our Locally Engaged Staff member (LES) is 
critical.  Windhoek's LES will provide the continuity and 
institutional memory for our advocacy efforts.  As noted in 
paragraph 2, post's locally engaged economic and commercial 
assistant attended the Regional CS-State Commercial Training 
sponsored by FCS Johannesburg February 17-20, 2009.  Post seeks to 
find additional, more focused, training for our economic and 
commercial assistant.  Post has identified three potential FSI 
courses highlighted in paragraphs 9-11 below (in rank order of 
preference). 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) Course:  PE125 - Commercial Tradecraft 
 
Justification:  This course prepares Officers and LES to be 
responsive and effective in providing assistance to U.S. businesses 
seeking advice, information and support in the pursuit of trade and 
investment opportunities abroad. Special emphasis is placed on the 
challenges and opportunities at embassies and consulates (such as 
Embassy Windhoek) where there is no Department of Commerce 
presence.  Participation in this course will provide not only 
focused training for our LES, but it will widen the LES's network 
of contacts at both State and the Department of Commerce. 
 
 
 
¶10. (U) Course: PE142 - Resource Economics Seminar 
 
Justification:  This seminar provides a comprehensive understanding 
 
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of extractive industries, focusing on natural resources, minerals 
and mining. The course features interaction with the U.S. 
Geological Survey, private firms, trade associations and 
non-governmental organizations with interests in mineral resources. 
Mining is Namibia's number one industry.  Understanding this 
industry in order to better assist American businesses that may 
have an interest in investing in and/or selling products/equipment 
to the Namibia mining sector is critical. 
 
 
 
¶11. (U) Course: PE127 - Petroleum and Gas Industry 
 
Justification:  This course presents an overview of the energy 
industry from the industry's perspective. It is designed to 
increase energy-reporting officers' knowledge of the petroleum and 
gas industry and international issues of concern to U.S. industry 
executives.  Namibia has a burgeoning hydrocarbons sector.  US 
companies are already working in exploration and there is a 
possibility for expansion. 
 
 
 
12 (U)  USD $3500 in BFIF funding is requested to cover the 
roundtrip airfare to send Embassy Windhoek LES to one of the above 
mentioned courses.  Lodging and M&IE fees will be covered through 
normal training funds. 
 
 
 
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Post BFIF Contacts 
 
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¶13. (U) Embassy Windhoek's points of contact for this BFIF request 
are: Economic and Commercial Officer Frank DeParis, 
+264-61-295-8549,   deparisf@state.gov; 
or Rauna Mutumbulua, +264-61-295-8596, 
 MutumbuluaMR@state.gov. 
MATHIEU