Participants information note



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  • Kindly take note that the Namibian Dollar is equal in value to the South African Rand and prices were negotiated in Namibian Dollar.



  • Kindly refrain from making bookings at more than 1 accommodation establishment as is it will be peak season for tourism during the time of the conference and accommodation is a bit scarce. Multiple bookings may result in some delegates not being able to secure accommodation.

Delegates are kindly advised to make their own accommodation bookings and indicate their hotel/guest house/lodge/self catering unit:


  1. on the online registration form accessible at the following web link/web portal:


https://www.bon.com.na/Bank/Financial-Intelligence-Centre/ESAAMLG-Registrations/Sub-Saharan-Africa-AML-CFT-Private-Sector-Dialogue.aspx


  1. to the ESAAMLG Secretariat; and




  1. to the following contact persons of the Namibian Financial Intelligence Centre listed below:




  • Ms. Leonie Dunn : leonie.dunn@bon.com.na

  • Ms. Zenobia Barry: zenobia.barry@bon.com.na

  • Ms. Sandra Garises: sandra.garises@bon.com.na

  • Ms. Harriet Simaata: harriet.simaata@bon.com.na

  • Ms. Erika Shikusinde: erika.shikusinde@bon.com.na

  • Ms. Traceley Brinkman: eunice.brinkmann@bon.com.na




  • All accommodation bookings by delegates must be done on or before 15 August 2013 as block bookings with all accommodation establishments will only be held until that date. After this date availability of accommodation cannot be guaranteed. Accommodation information must be communicated as highlighted above to the relevant persons of the Namibian FIC by latest 16 August 2013.




  • This information is vital in assisting the Namibian Government in providing efficient transport facilities from and to the conference centre.




  • Please note that delegates will be personally responsible for the settlement of their respective hotel expenses including cost of dinner, phone calls and other expenses.


NB: Delegates making reservations in hotels other than those on the indicated list will have to make their own transport arrangements from respective hotels to conference centre and back.


  1. Airport Arrival and Departure


Flying to Walvis Bay, Namibia
Delegates are kindly requested to take note that Swakopmund does not have an international airport. All air travels to Swakopmund from Johannesburg and Cape Town is served by the Walvis Bay Rooikop Airport which is located about 30 kilometres outside Swakopmund.
South African Airways and Air Namibian operate daily flights between Windhoek and Johannesburg. Should delegates fly with either of these airlines to Windhoek from Johannesburgh to Windhoek, connecting flights can be obtained from Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport to Walvis Bay Rooikop Airport.
Air Namibia also operates flights directly from Cape Town, Frankfurt, Gaborone, Harare, Johannesburgh and Lusaka to the Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek Namibia from where connecting flights can be obtained to Walvis Bay Rooikop Airport.
Other airlines operating to and from Frankfurt to Windhoek are Air Berlin.
All Ministers and Delegates will be received by representatives of the Namibian Government at either the Hosea Kutako International Airport or the Walvis Bay Rooikop Airport upon their arrival in Namibia. However, delegates are kindly requested to as far as is reasonably possible, secure flights directly from Johannesburgh or Cape Town to Walvis Bay Rooikop Airport.
Ministers will be welcomed in a designated VIP Lounge, whilst all other delegates will proceed through the normal arrival lounge.
Delegates should indicate their flight details by latest 16 August 2013, including their time of arrival and departure on the registration form available on the above indicated web portal/web link as well as to the ESAAMLG Secretariat and representatives of the Namibian Financial Intelligence Centre, as indicated above.


  1. Air Ticket Confirmation

A designated Government of Namibian official will also be available at the Conference Centre to assist you with the confirmation of your return ticket. You will be informed accordingly during the meetings. Participants wishing to alter their flight schedules will have to bear the additional costs.




  1. TRANSPORT FACILITIES

Transport facilities will be provided to convey delegate(s) from and to:




  • the Walvis Bay Rooikop Airport to listed accommodation establishments in Swakopmund; and

  • from listed accommodation establishments to the Swakopmund Hotel and Casino and back.

The timetable of departures of shuttles from listed accommodation establishments to the Swakopmund Hotel and Casino will be communicated to you on your arrival.


Ministers, VIP delegates and Heads of Delegations will be provided with special transport facilities.

  1. Reception and Registration

On arrival at the Swakopmund Hotel and Casino, please present yourself to the conference halls for registration. Registration facilities will be open on Friday 06 September 2013 from 08h00 – 18h00 and on Saturday 08 September from 06h00 to 08h00. Once registered, you will be handed over your participants’ badge, the conference kit and practical information concerning the organisation of the PPSD Meetings and the side events. Kindly ensure that you carry your identification badge on you at all time as no access to the Conference Halls will be allowed without the same.




  1. Meals/ Tea Breaks

During the course of the Meetings lunch/ tea/ coffee will be served to all participants. Dinner is at the participants’ own discretion (except the formal dinner scheduled for 06 September and the cocktail scheduled for the 07th of September) and expense. Social events may be organized in the evening for participants and they will be informed accordingly.




  1. Health/Medical Services


Yellow Fever
Infected areas are those areas which according to the World Health Organisation are included in the endemic zones. Delegates from the following countries will be required to submit a yellow fever certificate on arrival in Namibia: Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda.
Medical Services will be provided by personnel of the EMed Rescue 24 Group to delegates throughout the meetings. However, in all cases where hospital admission is required, delegates will have a choice of using the Swakopmund Cottage Hospital (a 100% privately owned hospital) or the Swakopmund Central hospital (100% Government owned). Kindly ensure that medical coverage is arranged prior to arriving in Namibia as all hospital costs as well as costs charged by private medical practitioners, will be for delegates own expense.
9. PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS
Any foreign delegate entering or leaving Namibia shall produce to the Passport Officer a valid passport (at least six months validity beyond the intended period of stay) issued to him by or on behalf of the Government of a country of which such person is a national or citizen, or some other Government document intended for travel and establishing the nationality or citizenship and identity of such person to the satisfaction of the Passport Officer.
Visa facilities will be granted to delegates on arrival at the Walvis Bay Rooikop Airport, but will strictly be reserved for those delegates originating from countries where Namibian Embassy is present. To facilitate the process of issuance of visas upon arrival, delegates are requested to provide the following particulars:

  • Passport details, name and surname, nationality, passport number, date and place of issue, expiration date as well as scanned

copies of the same (emailed to above indicated email addresses); and

  • Flight details, date and time of arrival, country where the flight originates, airline company and flight number.

All countries listed on the attached Annex 1 are exempted from visa requirements.



The above information would need to be communicated on the registration form available on the above-mentioned web link/web portal as well as to the ESAAMLG Secretariat and the above Namibian Financial Intelligence Centre representatives by latest 16 August 2013.


  1. Banking Facilities

The nearest banks in the vicinity of the Conference Centre are located in central Swakopmund, which are Standard Bank, Nedbank, Bank Windhoek and First National Bank.


Business hours for banks in Swakopmund are as follows:
Week-days (Monday to Friday) - from 9H00 to 15H30

Saturdays – from 9H00 to 12H00
ATM machines are operational on a 24-hour basis at most Commercial Banks and commercial centres and accept Visa, Mastercard, Dinner Club international.
Traveller’s cheques, International Visa, Master Card, American Express and Dinners Club credit cards are generally accepted by banks, most hotels, restaurants and shops. Foreign currency can be exchanged at some hotels, all banks and some bureaus de change.


  1. Currency

The local currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD). The South African Rand is also accepted as legal tender throughout Namibia and operates on a one to one exchange rate with the Namibian Dollar.


The current exchange rate is as follows:

U$1 = 9.14 (16 April rate - indicative)


The unit of currency is the Namibian Dollar (N$).
Hotels bills can be paid using cash or credit cards. Travellers’ cheques are also accepted. Please note that travellers’ cheques will be exchanged at the rate applied by the hotel, which will not necessarily be the same as that used by banks.
For the current exchange rates, please visit the Bank of Namibia Website at: www.bon.com.na


  1. Shopping centres:

Vinita, Brauhaus, Ankerplatz, Woermann House, Brock Arcade, Pick N Pay Mall & Spar Shopping Mall.




  1. Business Hours

Generally, from 09H00 to 16H00 each Monday to Friday and in some cases a half-day on Saturdays.




  1. NAMIBIA – General Information




    1. Geography

Namibia is a country with a small population which is located in the continent/region of Africa. The Country covers an area of 824 268 km². Namibia nature reserves, 15% of surface area, highest mountain: Brandberg, other prominent mountains: Spitzkoppe, Moltkeblick, Gamsberg. Perennial rives: Orange, Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi, and Kwando/Kinyati/Chobe. Ephemeral rivers: Numerous, including fish, keiseb, swakop and ugab. Countries near Namibia include Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. Its capital city is Windhoek.


    1. History

The history of Namibia has passed through several distinct stages from being colonised in the late nineteenth century to Namibia's independence on 21 March 1990.

From 1884, Namibia was a German colony: German South-West Africa. After the First World War, the League of Nations mandated South Africa to administer the territory. Following World War II, the League of Nations was dissolved in April 1946 and its successor, the United Nations, instituted a Trusteeship system to bring all of the former German colonies in Africa under UN control. South Africa objected arguing that a majority of the territory's people were content with South African rule.

Legal argument ensued over the course of the next twenty years until, in October 1966, the UN General Assembly decided to end the mandate, declaring that South Africa had no other right to administer the territory and that henceforth South-West Africa was to come under the direct responsibility of the UN (Resolution 2145 XXI of 27 October 1966.



    1. Population and ethnic composition

As at 31st December 2010, the population of Namibia was around 2.1 million comprising people of Indian, African, Chinese and European origins.


    1. Language

Most people in Namibia are bilingual and are equally fluent in English and Afrikaans. English is the main and official language in the everyday environment. In Swakopmund in particular, German is also commonly spoken by residents, but residents are equally fluent in English and Afrikaans.


    1. Politics

The political system is based on democracy with the President as head of the Government. The President elected by nationals every five years.


Current President: His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba

Current Prime Minister: Right Honourable Hage Gaingob



Minister of Finance: Honourable Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila

Minister of Justice: Honorable Utoni Nujoma

Minister of Foreign Affairs: Honorable Netumbo Ndaitwa


    1. Economy

The main economic sectors of Namibia are mining, fishing, tourism and agriculture. The biggest employer is Agriculture (46%). Fastest growing sector is tourism, Minings activities includes diamonds, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, magnesium, cadmium, arsenic, pyrites, silver and gold, lithium minerals, dimension stones (gratine, marble, blue sodalite) and many precious stones.


    1. Education and literacy rate

Education is free up to tertiary level. Adult literacy rate is about 84%.


  1. MEDIA LANDSCAPE IN NAMIBIA


15.1 Radio and Television

The Namibian audiovisual landscape is a free one. There are three television stations operating in the country: Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) owned by the government, which reaches approximately 45% of the population, One Africa Television (owned privately mostly Windhoek based and Lighthouse television (religious one) which is Swakopmund based. The country also enjoys the services of satellite television, Multi Choice Namibia (pay television) that covers the whole country.


There are a number of radio stations: Government owns 7 radio channels. NBC Radio reaches approximately 98% of the population. Private radio stations include: Radio Energy, Radio 99, Channel Seven, Radio Wave, Radio Kudu, Kosmos Radio, Radio Omulunga, UNAM Radio, Radio Ecclesia, Radio Live, Hit radio, Ohangwena Community Radio, Base FM, and Fresh FM


15.2 PRINT MEDIA
Namibia is one the countries in Africa that enjoys freedom of expression. This is evident on the number of print media in the country. The government owns New Era newspaper. The private print media include: The Namibian, the Republikein, Allgemeine Zeitung, Windhoek Observer, Namibia Economist, Namibia Today, Namib Times, Namibia Plus, Caprivi Vision, The Southern Times, Informante, the Villager, Confidente’, Namibian Sun, etc. There are also a number of magazines produced in the country.


  1. Useful Websites

Participants will find the following sites useful for general information about Swakopmund.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swakopmund

http://namibia.hotelguide.co.za/Swakopmund_Guide-travel/swakopmund-guide-activities.html

http://www.levotours.com/Tours.htm

www.namibian.org/travel/namibia/namib-naukluft.htm

www.greatestplaces.org/book_pages/namib2.htm

www.swakop.com/adv/dolphin_cruises.htm

swakopmund-info.net/swakopmund...information-dolphin-seal-cruise.htm

www.levotours.com/Tours.htm


  1. Communications DURING CONFERENCE

Wireless Internet facilities (free of charge) as well as telephone facilities (upon payment) will be made available at the Conference Centre.




  1. Entry of participants in the Conference/Meetings Room

For security reasons, participants will be required to display their name badge at the entrance of the Conference Halls at the Swakopmund Hotel and Casino. Please make sure that you have your identification badge on you at all times whilst present at the Swakopmund Hotel and Casino and that you have your conference kit before proceeding to the conference venues from your respective accommodation establishments.




  1. VAT

A value-added tax of 15% is payable on goods and services including hotels and restaurant bills and are normally included in the price charged.





  1. TIME

Namibia is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time during summer time and 1 hour behind during winter time


  1. CLIMATE OF NAMIBIA

The Climate of Namibia is dry typical of a semi desert country where droughts are a regular occurrence. Days are mostly warm to very hot while nights are generally cool. Average day temperatures in the summer vary from 20ºC – 34ºC, dropping at night to about 18ºC, sometimes as low as 8ºC. In the winter, average day temperatures vary from 18ºC – 22ºC and average night temperatures from 0ºC – 10ºC.
The town of Swakopmund is characterized by a mild climate thanks to the proximity of the ocean. The city is sometimes windswept by sand and sometimes bathed in fog.
Delegates are advised to pack both warm and light clothing as we may experience more than one season in a day.





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