KEETMANSHOOP – The Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy (MIME) recently held a regional business engagement in Keetmanshoop to assist businesses and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) in advancing their income-generating activities.
In her keynote address MIRT minister, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi described the engagement as an initiative from government to reach out to local businesses and SMEs in all of the country’s regions. “Therefore, this consultation is meant to foster a conducive business environment and enable the ministry to hear directly from businesses about their pain points, such as regulatory hurdles, market access and infrastructure deficits, “ she added. The Member of Parliament continued: “It will further allow us to better understand the challenges faced by exporting MSMEs and SMEs, such as difficulties in reaching wider markets, access to trade information pertaining to trade facilitations and non-tariff barriers, and equally important, to also be exposed to opportunities that we might be neglecting”.
She described the economic viability of the //Karas region as multifaceted. “It is home to significant mining operations, including zinc and diamond extraction and supports logistics for the petroleum and energy sectors,” she highlighted. She continued that the region’s vast landmass and low population density make it ideal for large-scale infrastructure and energy projects, including the transformative green hydrogen initiative currently underway near Lüderitz. In terms of agriculture, she said the region’s agricultural potential, particularly in livestock farming and irrigation-based horticulture offers opportunities for rural development and food security.
During the engagement the minister described the town as having a culture that reflects a rich blend of diversity, thus contributing to tourism appeal. “Keetmanshoop itself plays a central role in Namibia’s transport and logistics network in that it connects the northern and southern corridors via road and rail, facilitating cross border trade flows between Namibia and its SADC neighbors, thus contributing to regional integration, “ she said.
In his statement, regional governor, Dawid Gertze said the gathering reflects government’s strong commitment to deepen partnerships between public institutions, the private sector and international stakeholders in order to unlock economic potential and advance inclusive development. “
Gertze further reasoned that, with the right partnerships and targeted investment,
//Kharas can serve as a driver of Namibia’s economic growth, regional trade integration and job creation.” I wish to emphasise that in the //Kharas region, we are committed to creating an enabling environment for business, “ he said.