GOBABIS – Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Tjekero Tweya yesterday urged all Namibians to stand together in achieving the goals of Vision 2030 by following the example set by the Omaheke Trade Fair in uniting all small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) acroos the country.
Speaking at the opening of the second Omaheke Trade Fair in the Legare Stadium in Gobabis, the gateway to the east of Namibia, Tweya stressed the importance of trade fairs, saying it is the ideal place to share ideas amongst aspiring entrepreneurs, which can lead to the creation and development of new enterprises, job creation and poverty alleviation. “The Ministry of Trade and Industry is committed to promoting these local economic activities and initiatives geared towards achieving economic growth, accelerating business development and entrepreneurial development.
Trade fairs like this one, are the platform where business networks and relationships are formed between customers, producers and suppliers that will sustain the survival of a business in search of the national goals of Vision 2030,” he noted. Tweya said the government believes that investments, especially in the manufacturing, farming and agro-processing business sectors are fundamental to economic growth. “Investments in these sectors can assist in achieving the desired economic growth. The Omaheke Trade Fair [allows] potential entrepreneurs to conceptualize and translate their business ideas into bankable business plans, and actual self-employment businesses. Farming is also a very important sector, and I am pleased to see the presence of the livestock sector. Farming is our business, and we should all promote and support it because it can alleviate poverty,” he said.
He stressed that SME’s are the most important source of sustainable employment creation and a notable contributor to national economic growth and development. Tweya urged all aspiring entrepreneurs to make use of the structures government has put in place to support them. These include the provision of affordable business premises for production and trading purposes, the Equipment Aid Scheme that provides equipment to entrepreneurs on a cost-free basis, and the assistance from government to translate new businesses of aspiring entrepreneurs into bankable plans. “Government is helping many local businesspeople and SME’s to get their businesses off the ground, but I urge the private sector, especially financial institutions, to also welcome our SME’s in the banks for financial assistance and give them access to loans. Together we have tremendous potential, and I therefore urge Namibians to stand united in achieving our goals for Vision 2013,” he concluded.
By Deon Schlechter