WINDHOEK- The multi-million dollar Grove Mall developed by Safland Property Group Namibia in the Kleine Kuppe area, was officially opened yesterday by the Prime Minister, Dr. Hage Geingob.
The new mall forms part of the Hilltop Estate Development which is 220 000 square metres in total.
The CEO of Safland Property Group, Kallie van der Merwe, said the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) is one of the leading investors in the project.
Grove Mall covers around 54 000 square metres with a three-level shopping area and three-level parking areas.
Dr Geingob said: “From Government’s part we provided an investor friendly and conducive environment so that people can invest. We provide that peace so that you can come and invest. I really admire investors especially the local investors by clearing the bush and changing the environment.”
Geingob welcomed the Safland development and said the various shops have created a lot of jobs and informed them the Namibian financial sector is doing well with a GDP growth of 4.5 percent recorded this year alone.
“If you did not have trust in this country and faith in government this wouldn’t have been possible,” he noted
He, however, advised the architects to improve and incorporate an African flair into their building presentations in future.
Anchor tenants already doing business are chain shops Game, Checkers, Edgars, Spar, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Outdoor Warehouse (forming part of Sportsman’s Warehouse), Cotton On Group, Woolworths, Truworths, the Foshini Group, Mr. Price Group, Dischem, Clicks, Toys ‘R’ Us, Incredible Connection, MTC, News Café, Wimpy and Coricraft.
Approximately 25 percent of the new tenants that opened for business were previously not represented in Namibia.
Local Namibian retailers, include Otto Muir, Paulo’s, OTB, Boardriders and clothing shop My Republik. The cinema Ster Kinekor will open its doors soon.
To date a total investment of approximately N$400 million has been made and the total investment will come to approximately N$1.1 billion with between 1500 and 1800 jobs created at Namibia’s largest shopping mall.