President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare yesterday made an impromptu visit to the Business and Intellectual Property (Bipa) One Stop Centre to assess their modus operandi first-hand.
During the visit, Nandi-Ndaitwah called on government officials to treat investors as key partners in development and to provide fast, professional and transparent services to support economic growth and job creation.
Addressing staff and management, she said the private sector is the main driver of the economy and must be treated as a key partner in national development.
“The economy of any country, particularly in the era in which we are, is led by the private sector. Both local and international business people are the ones we are looking upon to work with us to grow our economy and create jobs,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She added that investors must be supported to help build long-term prosperity for Namibians, but stressed that this must be done ethically and transparently.
“We want to create generational wealth, but it must be done in an ethical, transparent manner and in the best interest of everybody,” she continued.
She added: “Business people, local and international, are our special partners in development. They should be given a red carpet at all times”.
“When they come to your desk, you are professionals. You know exactly what is required,” Nandi-Ndaitwah stated.
She said the turnaround time between an investor’s submission and feedback from institutions like Bipa should be minimal.
“It should not take you a whole week to inform the investor whether you are positive or negative.
Don’t keep people in suspicion because that is what frustrates them and pushes away other investors,” she added.
The President expressed concern that Namibia is increasingly being described as a difficult place to do business, noting that negative experiences spread quickly in the digital age.
She then directed key ministries and agencies, including environment, agriculture, mines and energy, as well as labour authorities, to be fully operational at the One Stop Centre before the end of January to prevent investors from moving between offices.
