By Martin Endjala

Copyright namibian

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged the establishment of a direct air link between Namibia and the United States (US), with Philadelphia as a potential gateway.

She was speaking at the Philadelphia City Council in New York on Thursday.

She said Namibia’s Hosea Kutako International Airport is a growing regional aviation hub, and establishing direct passenger and cargo routes to a city like Philadelphia would foster greater tourism, facilitate business exchanges, and enhance the movement of high-value goods.

“We invite stakeholders in the aviation and logistics sectors to consider the commercial and diplomatic benefits of such a direct connection.I need to highlight the unique opportunity that lies within the Philadelphia wholesale produce market, one of the largest and most sophisticated fresh produce distribution centres in the United States,” she said.

She said Namibia, with its rich agricultural products with seasonal counterbalance, is well positioned to become a supplier of speciality and off-season produce to American markets.

She believes Namibia’s agricultural exports can find a strategic entry point through Philadelphia’s world-class facilities.

“We must work together to create trade frameworks, compliance mechanisms, and investment partnerships that make this vision a reality,” she said.

The president proposed the exploration of a sister city agreement between Philadelphia and a Namibian city or town.

Such a partnership, she said, would provide a structured framework for long-term cooperation across areas including education, trade, health, urban development, and cultural exchange.