Source: allAfrica
The Dutch minister for foreign trade and development cooperation Lilianne Ploumen says The Netherlands is looking forward to partnering Namibia in trade and all-inclusive development.
The EU member is also looking at furthering the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325).
The resolution on women, peace and security was adopted unanimously on 31 October 2000, and acknowledges the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women and girls.
It calls for the adoption of a gender perspective to consider the special needs of women and girls during conflict, repatriation and resettlement, rehabilitation, reintegration and post-conflict reconstruction.
Ploumen said this at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Windhoek yesterday.
She also informed the media that she had a discussion with deputy prime minister and international relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah regarding the possibility of working together on tackling the effects of El Niño.
"We discussed how we can work together to resolve issues of hardships of the people of Namibia," she noted.
As regards the period after the broad EU-ACP relationship is renewed in 2020, The Netherlands want this relationship to be modern and reflect the signs of the times. This dialogue is still continuing.
Ploumen further highlighted that Namibia and The Netherlands' relationship goes back to the days when her country supported the Swapo Party during its fight against the apartheid South African regime.
However, she said there are no immediate plans to reopen the Dutch embassy in Windhoek, which was closed years back.
"We are looking at working with countries without having a physical presence in those countries," she stated.