Namibia has taken a step closer in becoming an international logistics hub for Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries with the release of a draft master plan.

It was indicated in the report commissioned by the Namibian government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), that Namibia’s geographical position and good infrastructure are two factors which could give the country the edge in becoming an international logistics and distribution centre in Southern Africa.

However, it was also mentioned in the report that the country has a relatively small domestic cargo demand base and is new to the international logistics sector.

“Even though there are problems associated with the main gateways used at present – Durban and Dar es Salaam –Namibia’s logistics sector is still an unknown risk for international business people,” read the report.

It has been recommended to bring attention to the region’s competitive pricing and to entice large global logistics companies to set up operations at the ports and gateways.