The ECA Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa is organising a consultative meeting in a hybrid format, on an automotive policy framework to support Namibia’s and Lesotho’s integration into the Automotive Regional Value Chain. The consultative meeting will take place on 8^th April 2025 in Windhoek, Namibia. The aim of the meeting is to engage stakeholders especially the private sector and obtain feedback on the report with the overall objective of reviewing and inputting into the recommendations of the policy framework.

The consultative meeting will be attended by policy makers and private sector representatives from both Namibia and Lesotho.

Objectives of the Consultative Meeting

1. Review the comprehensiveness of the methodology and adequacy on the coverage of issues pertinent to the policy framework of the report,
2. Review alignment of the automotive policy framework with other frameworks supporting trade and industrialization in Namibia and Lesotho including the AfCFTA automotive strategy,
3. Assess the feasibility of the recommendations, to recalibrate them to support successful implementation
4. Address any gaps and misrepresentations of findings and recommendations from the report.

Expected Outcomes of the Consultative Meeting

The  expected outcomes of the Consultative meeting will include;

1. Key recommendations for the finalisation of the automotive policy framework for Namibia and Lesotho.
2. Enhanced appreciation by stakeholders of the purpose and scope of work towards development of the automotive policy framework for Namibia and Lesotho.
3. Increased understanding of regional tools, initiatives and programmes which may be utilised to progress development of the automotive sector and value chains in the two countries
4. Enhanced ownership of the draft automotive policy framework for Namibia and Lesotho; and
5. A report on the outcome of proceedings.

 Contacts

For additional information and confirmation of participation:

• Grace Kaonga (Staff Assistant, UNECA Southern Africa Office) - kaonga.uneca@un.org
• Talumba Ireen Chilipaine (Economic Affairs Officer, UNECA Southern Africa Office) - talumba.chilipaine@un.org
• Olayinka Bandele (Chief, Inclusive Industrialization Section, UNECA Southern Africa Office) - olayinka.bandele@un.org

Media Contacts:

• Lavender Degre (Communication Officer, UNECA Southern Africa Office)-  lavender.degre@un.org

Concept note