US Dep. Assistant Sec. of State in Walvis Bay

Eileen van der Schyff

The U.S. Department of State’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Matthew Harrington, visited Walvis Bay recently where he among others had the opportunity to see progress being made with construction of the new container terminal on reclaimed land in the port.

Harrington’s visit to Walvis Bay formed part of his visit to Namibia on engagements covering the broad US-Namibian partnership.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Harrington met with the Prime Minister, the Deputy Minister, the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Minister of Environment and Tourism. Deputy Assistant Secretary Harrington then visited the Walvis Bay Port Expansion Project to better understand Namibia’s positioning to be a logistics hub and Transport corridor. “
At the Ministers’ of Health Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Meeting on a Sustainable HIV Response for Epidemic Control held on Thursday, 20 June, Deputy Assistant Secretary Harrington applauded Namibia’s success in his remarks in bringing HIV under control in the country. This success is thanks to the partnership between America’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services “The U.S. model of partnership offers sustainable, debt-free avenues for African growth, prosperity, and human capital development,” explained Deputy Assistant Secretary Harrington. He emphasised that United States countries are attracted to countries known for ease of doing business and their consistent policy and regulatory environments. Deputy Assistant Secretary Harrington was also able to visit Swakopmund while he was in Namibia, where he visited COS-DEF Arts and Crafts Centre constructed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation. He also met with Peace Corps volunteers who are dedicating two years of their lives to community development all around Namibia.