FLUIDEX in collaboration with ICEX is arranging a trade delegation to South Africa – Namibia from the 24th to the 28th June:

• Financial support: only for spanish companies.
• Registration deadline:21/03 (only for spanish companies).
• Official call: HERE! (only for spanish companies).

The objetive is to have a work agenda of 3 days in Johannesburg, South Africa, and 2 days in Windhoek, Namibia.

SOUTH AFRICA
The economy of South Africa is the second largest in Africa (after Nigeria) and the most industrialized, technologically advanced, and diversified economy in Africa. South Africa is an upper-middle-income economy, one of only eight such countries in Africa. South Africa is rich in a variety of minerals. Although the natural resource extraction industry remains one of the largest in the country with an annual contribution to the GDP of US$13.5 billion, the economy of South Africa has diversified since the end of apartheid, particularly towards services.

• Oil&Gas
  TotalEnergies, discovered two massive gas fields off South Africa in 2019 and 2020. TotalEnergies, the operator with a 40% stake, and partners Shell, also with 40%, and national oil company PetroSA holding the remaining 20%, propose drilling up to five exploration wells in the block. Gas production maintains better prospects than oil production.
• Water
  South Africa’s water infrastructure is facing a severe crisis, driven by inefficiencies in the system. By fostering strong partnerships between the public and private sectors, South Africa can unlock new opportunities and find sustainable and innovative solutions, paving the way for a prosperous future.
• Energy
  South Africa is gradually developing its renewable energy sector. The growth of renewable energy technologies is discussed and recommendations are suggested on the steps that can further drive the integration of renewable energy technologies into the present energy mix of the country.

NAMIBIA
The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 11.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The mining and quarrying sectors employ 2% of the population. Namibia´s economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations, and drought. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials, do more in-country manufacturing, and exploit the services market, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors. The rising cost of mining diamonds, increasingly from the sea, combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China, has reduced profit margins.
Namibia is the world´s fifth-largest producer of uranium. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper.

• Water
  Water and energy supplies remain critical restrictions to sustainable development. Existing water scarcity is being aggravated by the signs of climate change, namely
  educed rainfall in some areas, while in others an increase in temperatures. Climate change in Namibia has the potential to undermine natural resource-based sectors including agriculture, fisheries and the blossoming nature-based tourism sector. The increased incidents of drought and flood events will ensure continued adversity for the poorest segments of society – rural subsistence farmers – who are also challenged by land degradation. The government of the Republic of Namibia has identified seven sectors, namely, water resources, marine resources, agriculture, biodiversity ecosystems (tourism), coastal zones, health and energy to be vulnerable to climate change. Under such scenario of decreases in rainfall and increase in evaporation, Namibia is likely to face severe water shortages. A great development of infrastructures will be therefore required.