Windhoek –Kenya has been experiencing imbalance trade with Namibia for over 10 years resulting in the eastern African country recording a trade deficit of 50 million Kenyan Shillings (KSH) (U$49 000) to date, The Southern Times can reveal.

Latest statistics dated December 2, 2015 from the Centre for Business Information in Kenya shows that Kenya has been importing more goods, 50 percent more of what it exports to the southern African nation.

The statistics shows that the only time Kenya did not record a trade deficit when it comes to trading with Namibia was only in 2007, 2008 and 2014 since the year 2004.

The largest deficit was recorded in 2009 when it imported goods worth KSH328 million (U$320 000) while exporting goods worth only KSH76 million (U$751 159).

The imbalance trade has been severely unfair to Kenya since 2008 that lasted until 2014 when Kenya recorded a balance trade of KSH 61 million (U$597 059).

According to the statistics Kenya’s largest exports to Namibia in 2014 that generated more revenue was medicaments (including veterinary medicaments) which raked in over KSH61 million (U$60 000).

Other exports include petroleum products and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (other than crude); preparations, (not elsewhere specified) containing by weight 70 percent or more of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous which was worth over KSH37 million (U$36 552).

Other exports include rice, electric power machinery, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons (other than public-transport type vehicles) including station wagons and racing cars amongst others.

The largest import by Kenya from Namibia in 2014 was zinc which cost the country KSH59.8 million (U$584 438). More than KSH13 million (U$135 000) was also used to import ferrous waste and scrap (re-melting ingots of iron or steel).

Other imports includes alcoholic beverages, office and stationery supplies, worn clothing and other worn textile articles, baby carriages, toys, games and sporting goods etc.

Speaking to The Southern Times newspaper this week, Kerubo Omurwa, Second Counsellor at the Kenya High Commission in Namibia said the two countries are trading at a level which is unacceptable that there is a need for trade enhancement.

“The trade volumes are still very low and there is room for improvement. As a member of East African Community (EAC), Kenya has vast opportunities so is Namibia in Southern Africa Development Community/Southern Africa Customs Union,” she said.

She also said that the negotiations of the tripartite will boost the two countries trade levels as that will open up the markets further.

Tripartite Cooperation is an agreement which was entered in to, on the 12 June, 2011, by the the Heads of State and Government of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development community (SADC) in signing a declaration launching negotiations for the establishment of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Free Trade Area (FTA).

The Common Market for COMESA-EAC-SADC comprises 26 countries with a combined population of nearly 600 million people and a total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately US$1.0 trillion.

The main objective of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite is strengthening and deepening economic integration of the southern and eastern Africa region. This will be achieved through harmonisation of policies and programmes across the three Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in the areas of trade, customs and infrastructure development.

Omurwa said lack of direct routes/flights between two countries is also severely damaging the trade between countries.

“As a member of SACU Namibia naturally relies more on trade with South Africa. Creation of direct flights between our two countries could be a great help to the trade also. Kenya is blessed with fantastic climate with the advantage of all year round agricultural exports which could be of benefit to Namibia,” she said.

Source: The Southern Times

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