Ongwediva
Business people in Oshikango are optimistic the findings of the delegation sent to the border town to assess the trade situation will resolve the lack of business and prevent further retrenchments and closure of businesses.
A delegation comprising of staff from the Ministry of Finance and other relevant stakeholders are said to have visited the town towards the end of last month.
In the meantime, business at the border town is said to have deteriorated further, with some businesses recording between zero and singular sales each week.
However, the business community is keen that with the government’s intervention business could pick up in the long run, but they feel there is still a need for a temporary solution.
“We hope that a temporary solution can be found to boost business operations,” said Connie Ramirez of the Oshikango Business Association.
Raed Hijazi, chairperson of Oshikango Business Association was of the view the delegation would have had a concrete action plan from suggestions put to government to solve the crisis.
The business community in March proposed solutions to government to help boost business at the town.
“Unfortunately, when the delegation came here, it did not have in place any action plan or concrete proposal,” said Hijazi.
Hijazi said government had taken an initiative to prioritize the matter and to give feedback as the situation dictates.
He said that currently there is hardly any business at the border town.
“There is nothing happening here, and our plea to government is really to treat the matter with urgency, because time is crucial because business is bad,” said Hijazi.
Business people expect government to pronounce whether the proposal suggested by business is viable or not.
The delegation had promised to study the proposals.
Hijazi said business came to a standstill following the suspension of the exchange of Angolan kwanza for Namibian dollars in December last year.