Rudolf Gaiseb
The trade ministry will assist qualifying micro, small and medium enterprises with equipment and machinery through the Ministry’s Equipment Aid Scheme (EAS).
The deadline is 10 October 2024.
The sectors encouraged to apply include manufacturing, which encompasses garment and metal fabrication; agri-food processing; gemstone and dimension stone processing (including small-scale mining); pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; refrigeration and air-conditioning, including heating, ventilation and cooling sectors; cultural and creative sectors; renewable energy as well as information and communication technology.
Deputy executive director for industrial development at the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT) Michael Humavindu said to apply, “businesses
should be 100% -owned by Namibian citizens, should be registered with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority, and have a tax clearance certificate for the company from the Namibia Revenue Agency, including proof of qualification
and experience in preferred business (optional)”.
“They must have a good standing from the Social Security Commission to track employment-creation in the long run, have a micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) certificate from the MIT, and a brief business proposal or company profile not more than two pages, and should be operational for at least a year.
MSMEs that are involved in the sectors should apply by completing the EAS application form that can be obtained from the ministry’s website and offices in all regions. The requested amount should not exceed N$80 000 per applicant, and the applicants must be able to contribute 10% of the requested amount,” Humavindu said.
He added that the applying business should not have benefitted before from EAS and other business assistance programmes offered by the Constituency Development Fund, Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, as well as the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
The promotor is urged to also supply three quotations from three different suppliers. It is mandatory to apply in the region where the business is operating.