Policy solution finalised for Peugeot assembly plant
2021-01-20
There is light at the end of the tunnel for the N$190 million-dollar Peugeot Opel Assembly Namibia (POAN) venture at Walvis Bay as legislation to enable the exportation of the locally assembled vehicles into the Southern African region has been finalised. The exportation of vehicles from the factory, established in 2019, has been marred by an export tariff of 18% as a result of Rules of Origin provisions in previously agreed regional trade agreements. Government owns 49% in POAN whilst global automotive manufacturer, PSA Groupe, owns the remaining 49%.
However, according to deputy executive director in the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, Michael Humavindu, the trade ministry, with support from the finance ministry, worked on policy solutions which are to be gazetted early this year to ensure the exportation of the vehicles.