The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said, “Dare to know, dare to know, dare to know, for our future and yours depend on you daring to know.”
Namibian youth should continually pursue academic fields that would favourably position them and the Namibian nation in the global economy, and the commerce field is exactly one of these, with Namibia’s current increasing trade within the global economic market.
A recent visit to Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer border posts served as an eye-opener to me as far as trade is concerned in our country and beyond.
The current state of Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of the two border posts in the region and the nation at large. Their pertinence is further accentuated. The risk of a shortage of key industrial, medical and basic household supplies has further brought the need for a robust and agile supply chain to the forefront. With the two border posts currently operating at a rate of about 400 trucks a day, many opportunities thus exist in the areas of trade, transport and logistics.
The youth of Namibia must, therefore, educate themselves, or realign their academic pursuits with the demands of the current economy. Great opportunities exist for students who have graduated in commerce-related fields to align themselves with the relevant companies in shipping, logistics and transportation to comprehend how international trade or the free flow of commodities is done in the global network.
The above-mentioned will enable graduates to participate in the international trade flow. We are no longer an island in the ocean, but a country garnering momentum to provide and expedite trade for the rest of southern Africa. Namibian youth should thus strive for broader knowledge on the four main corridors, namely the Trans-Kalahari, Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi, Trans-Cunene, and Trans-Oranje Development Corridors, through which Namibia networks with the world in business. There is huge potential for job-creation in the world of international commerce and development.
Current global powerhouses have used strong logistics and supply chain industries to further strengthen their market position, such as the Chinese 2013 Belt and Road initiative. Only through innovative and educated youth will our nation be able to count on individuals serving as guiding instruments to adapt international intent into realising our NDPs and Vision 2030 goals. International trade will unlock the potential for graduates with these qualifications to learn and acquire more experience in the shipping and logistics industry, and they will always have the benefit of having a career throughout the world since logistics and the movement of cargo are always required.
We must, therefore, align education in the country with these opportunities. The nation’s expansion into energy production and logistics hubs needs our youth to have a mind for exploration and extend beyond the local and current catch. I, therefore, urge our youth who have an interest in international trade to inquire about relevant courses at Unam and Nust. Our country needs you. The whole of Africa needs you. Dare to dream. Dare to know. Dare to do. *Reverend Jan A Scholtz is the former chairperson of the //Kharas Regional Council and former !Nami#nus constituency councillor. He holds a Diploma in Theology, B-Theo (SA), a Diploma in Youth Work and Development from the University of Zambia (UNZA), as well as a Diploma in Education III (KOK) BA (HED) from UNISA.