President Seretse Khama Ian Khama says Botswana depends on diamonds, but that she now wants to diversify her economy and start manufacturing.
He says efforts to expand the manufacturing base of landlocked countries are hampered by the high transport costs, which impact negatively on competitiveness.
President Khama notes that a dry port in Namibia could solve that problem.
He was speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of Botswana's Dry Port at Walvis Bay yesterday(tue).
President Khama said the facility gives Botswana a direct link to the harbour through the Trans-Kalahari Corridor.
He said it would soon be developed by the Botswana Development Corporation with state funds.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of NamPort Board of Directors, Jerry Muadinohamba, said the two neighbours were linked to the Trans-Kalahari Corridor that is registering a significant growth in the volume of goods transported along it.
Muadinohamba says 2011 volume growth along the Corridor was 60 percent.
He, therefore, believes that the development of the Dry Port will increase trade between the two countries.
Namibia and Botswana signed a 50-year Dry Port lease agreement in September 2009.
The 36-thousand square metre plot is adjacent to the southern end of the Walvis Bay Harbour and railway station.
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