//Kharas governor Dawid Gertze is supporting the call by the Construction Industries Federation (CIF) for the establishment of a Construction Council, which he said is a crucial development for his region.

 Speaking at a CIF Infrastructure Forum that concludes in Lüderitz today, he added that in the absence of a council, CIF membership should be required for construction companies. 

“To make this work, we need proper structures. I support the CIF’s call for a Construction Council for Namibia. A Construction Council would register and grade all construction companies, match project size with contractor capacity, support training, skills development and business growth, and give us a clear picture of the industry, big and small. For our region, this is very important. We need clear and fair systems to make sure local contractors are included in a structured way, not by chance,” said Gertze. 

“In the absence of a Construction Council, CIF membership should be seen as an important requirement, because their members follow a clear code of conduct. If you look at the organisation of this Forum, the workmanship and professionalism speak for themselves,” he added. 

The governor motivated that Namibian companies must be at the centre of new developments, particularly in his region. 

“Local businesses must not be spectators. They must take part, build partnerships and benefit from these opportunities,” said Gertze. 

He continued that creating opportunities means creating real chances for local contractors and suppliers. 

This includes looking at creating mechanisms for meaningful local joint ventures and subcontracting that build skills and capacity, and including local services and businesses in the value chains. 

Said Gertze: “At the same time, we know that competition is healthy. It pushes us to do better, deliver quality and stay innovative. Our goal is to balance local participation with fair competition. We want Namibian businesses to grow and succeed, while also welcoming new ideas and high standards. Namibia must be open to business and investment. Therefore, protectionism is not the answer. But it must be a balanced approach”.

The CIF infrastructure Forum in Lüderitz has focussed on practical issues for the domestic construction sector, including improving subcontracting and quality standards, building strong joint ventures between large and small companies, and improving procurement and tendering to ensure fair and sustainable competition.  

These steps, said Gertze, will help build a strong, inclusive and competitive construction sector.

Also addressing the forum, Bärbel Kirchner, CIF’s CEO, reminded participants how important construction is for the domestic economy. 

“We must never forget that construction is at the heart of Namibia’s economy. When other industries slow down, we feel it too. When there are recessions, budget cuts or moratoriums on infrastructure spending, the impact on our sector is immediate. But even in those moments, we are not powerless. 

We can influence how our national resources are spent. Every sector is connected – like one big Namibian family – and construction is at the core of that family. Without infrastructure, no other sector can grow,” said Kirchner. 

The CIF CEO continued that to maximise local content is key, including integrating the local industry into the national construction landscape. 

“Just as at national level we aim to prioritise Namibian majority-owned contractors, we must also recognise and support local contractors in the regions where projects are taking place. 

Here in Lüderitz and across the //Kharas region, many SMEs have said they want to be seen and engaged. They don’t want to stand on the sidelines. 

They want to participate and contribute, and they are right. Their local presence, knowledge and capacity are essential for sustainable development,” said Kirchner.