By Staff Reporter |
In order to meet the country’s need for industrialization and economic growth a lot is being done by the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development.
According to the ministry’s corporate communications manager Mr Elijah Mukubonda the ministry has stepped up the gear and is on the verge of witnessing great progress in the economic trajectory of the country.
Mukubonda says that some of the significant plans, programmes and projects underway are the following:
“1) The Ministry continues to witness progress in the implementation of the key programmes under the Office aimed at contributing towards economic development and job creation including various interventions supported by key polices and regulatory framework relating to industrialisation, trade and investment promotion. Majorly, to attract foreign direct investment to Namibia, lure various investors to the country to inject investments in various sectors such as water, energy, agriculture, transportation, affordable housing, tourism, manufacturing, etc., to stimulate economic growth and job creation, while addressing urgent and pressing socio-economic and development needs.
“2) Agencies as implementing arms of the Ministry need urgent reforms and realignment to foster industrial development projects to create job opportunities, to grow the economy creating jobs for Namibians.
“3) To enhance participation of Namibian SMEs in the mainstream industrial value chains ensuring they derive maximum benefits from foreign direct investments.
“4) Through foreign investments, NIDA signed [MOUs] to establish:
(a) a world-class Walvis Bay Film Production Studio as well as amusement enterprise center,
(b) a multimillion Industrial Park in Walvis Bay, invite companies to establish enterprises there in order to take opportunity of the AfCFTA. Partners have committed themselves.
(c) an International Convention Centre on the outskirts of Windhoek. These three projects will change the face of Namibia as well as creating plenty of job opportunities for Namibians.
“5) The retail charter laid out principles and targets to ensure greater access into the retail market for local beneficiaries. Facilitating the creation of a suitable climate for local contribution to the value chain as well as to assist job creation amongst other growth targets.
“6) Charcoal project for youth employment; the ministry intends to promote a charcoal Sector Growth project to contribute to the inclusive and sustainable industrial development of Namibia. This is to be achieved through harvesting raw products to be processed in semi-processed products and charcoal is one of the intended product(s) for the project. This initiative is expected to create job opportunities for Namibian youth.
In the photo: Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade’s corporate communication manager Elijah Mukubonda.
