STORY: Namibia's main transport route reopens after renovation
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 3, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 5, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:55
LOCATION: Windhoek
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the ceremony celebrating the commissioning of the B1 highway
2. various of the rehabilitation project of the B1 highway in southern Namibia

STORYLINE:

A ceremony was held Tuesday in Namibia's southern town of Tses to celebrate the reopening of the B1 highway, the country's key transportation route.

The project, which began in February 2021, has entailed renovating an 88-km southern section of the B1 highway from Keetmanshoop in the Karas Region to Mariental in Hardap Region.

More than 400 local people attended Tuesday's event, which featured government officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport John Mutorwa. Representatives of the China Henan International Cooperation Group Limited (CHICO) were also in attendance.

In addressing the ceremony, Mutorwa thanked CHICO for its high-quality construction work and for delivering the project one month ahead of schedule. Mutorwa also noted that the Chinese company has trained 500 skilled workers.

Aletha Frederick, governor of Kharas Region, told reporters that CHICO has significantly contributed to socio-economic and infrastructure development in Kharas and set a new benchmark for future road infrastructure projects in Namibia.

Cui Yunke, general manager of CHICO's Namibia Company, said that the project has had to overcome difficulties such as the COVID-19 epidemic. The company employed more than 800 local people on the project.

The B1 highway is the only highway connecting Namibia to its largest trading partner, South Africa. The road's reopening is expected to contribute to Namibia's economic development by enhancing the movement of goods and improving safety for travelers between the two countries.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Windhoek.
(XHTV)