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Marianne Young

Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

Part of UK in Namibia

11th April 2012 Windhoek, Namibia

Doing business in Namibia

Catherine Evans, Hon Calle Schlettwein – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance and HE Mrs Marianne Young

I launched a new business guide funded by the British High Commission called Doing Business in Namibia yesterday at the latest lunch meeting of the British Business Group (BBG) in Windhoek. The launch was attended by a number of local and visiting special guests as well as BBG members spanning the mining, marine and financial services, and tourism sectors. Deputy Minister of Finance Calle Schlettwein and Deputy Director of Economic Policy and Advisory Service Penda Ithindi joined us from the Ministry of Finance. We also had a special guest visiting from the UK, Baroness Lynda Chalker, chairman of Africa Matters and former Foreign Office Minister.

The guide is intended to help British companies gain a comprehensive insight into the economic environment and investment prospects in Namibia. It contains a helpful digest of key country background matters, sets out relevant legislative issues, and highlights the opportunities (by sector) and challenges of operating here.

The UK government remains committed to building Britain’s prosperity by increasing exports and investment, opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable global growth.

At a recent event to mark the one year anniversary of the launch of the UK’s trade strategy, the Trade and Investment White Paper, UK Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green said: “Encouraging businesses to export more is at the very heart of our approach. We need to ensure business, especially our small businesses, have all the tools they need to flourish, that we strengthen and improve our relationship with trade partners around the world, that we fight protectionism and ensure poor countries can benefit fully from free and fair trade.” This business guide is part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s local efforts in Namibia to provide such tools for British businesses. The British High Commission in Windhoek, although small and without a UK Trade & Investment presence, remains committed to assisting UK companies to increase trade and investment links with Namibia.

Baroness Lynda Chalker at the British Business Group lunch, where a business guide called ‘Doing Business in Namibia’ was launched

If you would like to receive a copy of the guide or find out more about the British Business Group in Namibia please contact Carina Smith at carina.smith@fco.gov.uk

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About Marianne Young

Marianne Young is the current British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia. She arrived in Windhoek in June 2011 and presented her credentials to the President of the Republic of…

Marianne Young is the current British High Commissioner to the
Republic of Namibia. She arrived in Windhoek in June 2011 and presented
her credentials to the President of the Republic of Namibia on 3rd
August.
Mrs Young joined the FCO in 2001 following a career in international
journalism, including time spent running an Asian maritime press office
in Singapore and a traineeship on the UK’s Times newspaper.
Her first role in the FCO was as a Press Officer in News Department,
after which she went on to be Head of the Great Lakes Section in Africa
Directorate and then Head of the East Africa & Horn Section.
In 2005, she became the first Head of Communications for the Engaging with the Islamic World Group.
She moved to the British High Commission in Pretoria in February 2007
and served as the Head of the External Political Section and Deputy
High Commissioner to the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland.
Mrs Young moved across to the British High Commission in Windhoek in
June 2011, and presented her credentials to the President of the
Republic of Namibia on 3rd August 2011.
On her appointment as British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia, Mrs Young said:
“I am honoured and delighted to be appointed Her Majesty’s High
Commissioner to Namibia. I look forward to working to strengthen the
many commercial, political and cultural ties between our two countries,
and to help the many British nationals who holiday there. My family and I
are particularly thrilled to be remaining in southern Africa – and to
have the opportunity to explore this beautiful country further and
discover more about its people and culture.”
Curriculum vitae

Full name:
Marianne Young

Married to:
Barry Young

Children:
Two daughters and one son

 
June 2011
Windhoek, British High Commissioner

2007 – 2011
 
Pretoria, Head of External Political Section and DHC for the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland

2005 – 2006
FCO, Head of Communications, Engaging with the Islamic World Group

2004 – 2005
FCO, Head of East Africa & Horn Section, Africa Directorate

3/2003 – 8/2003
FCO, Head of Great Lakes Section, Africa Directorate

2002 – 2003
FCO, Press Officer, Press Office

2001 – 2002
FCO, Departmental Report Editor, Press Office

2001
Joined FCO

2000-2001
Senior Correspondent, Fairplay Group, UK

1995-2000
Staff Editor and then Asia Editor, Fairplay Group Singapore

1994-1995
Graduate Trainee at The Times newspaper, UK

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