Namibia

When Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt decided to have their daughter, Shiloh, in the country of Namibia on the African continent, most people would have had a difficult time picking out the country on a world map. Since that time, the southwestern African country has enjoyed the popularity brought to it by its celebrity visitors. I believe that Namibia would be the perfect location for the expansion of our eco-tour and resort company.

The official language of Namibia is English and the country was granted its independence and its entry into the United Nations in 1990. The Namibian government is a multi-party, multi-racial democracy where the president is elected to a five year term. The constitution has established a bicameral Parliament and three branches of government to serve as a system of checks and balances. The legal system is comprised of a Supreme Court, the High Court, and lower courts and is similar to that of the South African government. This country's unitary government is in the process of decentralization. Namibia has very good relations with the United States, based partially upon shared democratic values, a commitment to rule of law, and respect for human rights.

Namibia has a sophisticated, formal economy that is based on capital-intensive industry and farming. The economy is actually divided in two parts - one is a modern market economy and the other is a traditional subsistence economy sector. The government in an effort to promote commercial development and job creation, has been attempting to achieve free-market economic principles. In pursuit of these principles, Namibia has been seeking out foreign investors and donor assistance. The Foreign Investment Act, passed by the Namibian government in 1990, provides freedom from nationalization, to remit capital and profits, currency convertibility, and a forum for equitable dispute settlement.

Mining represents approximately 8% of the country's GDP. Diamond mining alone represented over $700 million in exports in 2006 (US State Department). Tourism is currently the third largest industry in the country of Namibia, though it is far behind mining and agriculture.

Namibia's unique geography and natural resources make it the best place for our company to expand its eco-tourism endeavors. On the western side of the country, the bright orange dunes of the Namib desert terminate at the Southern Atlantic Ocean. The Kalahari Desert occupies the eastern part of the country with savanna plains and small mountains in between.

In a land where safari tours, bird-watching, and sand-surfing are all part of an adventurous itinerary, an eco-tourism company could take advantage of the country's unspoiled beauty. The political and legal conditions exist such that Namibia should be further considered as a potential market for our eco-tourism company.

References

United States Department of State, 2008. Background Notes: Namibia. Retrieved

October 21, 2008 from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5472.htm.