For South African business people, it has become easier to stay longer in Namibia. The Nambian government has announced that Namibia will issue five-year visas to South African business people. The decision followed complaints by some Namibian people doing business with South African citizens, Nambian President Hage Geingob said when addressing the non-profit financial organization Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Here Is All You Need To Know
According to Geingob, the current policy of two-year business visas to South African citizens has unfortunately hampered investment and economic growth.
Apart from prolonging the duration of Namibian visa, the government is also planning to introduce e-visas to South African citizens.
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What This Means For South African Business People
South Africa is Namibia’s largest trading partner in the South African Development Community, a 16-member inter-governmental organization.
In March 2016, the Namibian government imposed a requirement that South African business people must apply for a business travel visa directly from the Namibian High Commission in order to gain access to the country. If you don’t apply for a visa directly with the commission, at least three days prior to your business trip, you will be kindly asked to return to South Africa.
Many business owners were turned away, but the Namibian government has recognised that it’s making business life difficult for its most prominent trading partners.
Hage G. Geingob, Namibia’s president, says that Namibia needs South Africans. And that his constituency is working towards solutions that enable more South African businesses to trade with his country.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world