CAPE TOWN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani on Friday pledged the government's commitment to closing the water and sanitation investment gap.

Zaamwani made the remarks on the last day of the inaugural three-day Africa Water Investment Summit in Cape Town. The summit aims to mobilize investment to close the continent's reported annual water investment gap of 30 billion U.S. dollars.

"We are one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and climate change is intensifying our water security challenges," Zaamwani said. "Yet, we are determined to turn these challenges into opportunities -- opportunities for innovation, partnerships, and sustainable investment in line with Sustainable."

The minister noted that the Namibian cabinet has the allocation of 5 percent of the national budget to water and sanitation investment.

Zaamwani added that the country would conduct a joint feasibility study on the Noordoewer-Vioolsdrift Dam on the Orange River, valued at 2.5 million dollars, with costs to be shared equally by Namibia and South Africa.

"The capital costs requirement for the dam construction is about 231 million dollars, which we are hoping to attract interest from investors. This project is important for long-term water security for social and economic development of our two nations and the Ecological Water Requirements in the Lower Orange River," she said.

Zaamwani further noted that public financing alone was insufficient and that the country would advance public-private partnerships as a core element of its water security strategy. Enditem