Namibia is taking a significant step in intra-African trade this week as the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) dispatches its first leather exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Two containers of wet-blue hides will be transported from Meatco’s Okapuka Tannery to Mombasa, Kenya, via the port of Walvis Bay, where they will be processed into finished leather by a newly secured Kenyan client under a trial arrangement. The transaction will take place using AfCFTA’s non-tariff provisions and certificate of origin requirements.
Meatco’s interim Chief Executive Officer, Albertus Aochamub, described, “This is a milestone for both our company and Namibia as it demonstrates practical progress in accessing a continental market valued at USD 3.4 trillion and representing more than 1.3 billion people.” He acknowledged existing logistical challenges but expressed optimism that deeper intra-African trade, supported by the continent’s vast natural resources, could unlock new wealth and opportunities for Namibian producers.
He added that Namibia is well positioned to expand its leather exports across Africa as more markets open up. Currently, Meatco exports meat and related products to several international markets, including South Africa, China, Norway and the European Union, where Namibian beef has built a strong reputation. Over time, this export footprint has expanded to cover countries across Africa, Europe and Asia including Botswana and China, with growing demand for hides, skins and game meat.
The growth in game meat exports has been supported by the introduction of strict sanitary controls aligned to European Union standards. Despite this progress, the sector continues to face challenges such as climate change, global price volatility and recurring animal disease outbreaks. To strengthen resilience, both government and industry players are focusing on improving logistics, modernising veterinary systems and strengthening links between agriculture and tourism.
This will be Namibia’s second export under the AfCFTA framework. In June, the country completed its first official AfCFTA trade transaction with the export of 45,000 tonnes of salt from Walvis Bay to Nigeria, marking the beginning of its deeper integration into continental trade.
