By Hoandi !Gaeb
KEETMANSHOOP – The long-awaited multi-billion dollar glass factory on the outskirts of the small village of Tses near Keetmanshoop was launched on Saturday. The event saw hundreds of people gathered to witness the historic ground-breaking ceremony.
The construction of the over 700 million US dollar factory (N$7 billion) , the first of its kind in Namibia, will start at the beginning of October and is expected to be completed in November next year.
The idea to set up a glass factory at Tses was born some two years ago when local entrepreneurs came together to brainstorm on the ambitious project.
Tses Glass Managing director Simon Kapenda told the enthusiastic audience that the project that could create some 40 000 direct and indirect jobs in twenty years, could be regarded as the future breadbasket of the //Karas Region.
“Namibia will for the first time become a glass producing country where glass products will be locally produced,” he said.
Kapenda said financing would come from local and German partners. The next step is to import the necessary building material for construction work to start in October, he said.
He said the new development would bring more houses, schools, shops and health facilities such as clinics and hospitals. “We want to make Tses an economic hub of southern Namibia,” said Kapenda.
Tses Glass (Pty) Ltd is a Namibian company which aims to become the world’s largest and most dynamic glass manufacturing plant for all glass products for residential and commercial purposes like touch-screen devices, automobiles, industrial usage and glass bottles.
Tses Glass has appointed and signed up with German-based Heye International to facilitate the construction of the envisioned Tses Glass Factory.
The factory is a joint venture between Groot Group, SDS Group,Nissi Group and the Tses Village Council.
The Board of Trustees consist of Brian Gaoseb, Piere Vries , Tses Village Council, Danny Kamunoko, Julia Nujoma, Simon Kapenda, Kauna Massamba, Rina da Cruz and Alphinius Swartbooi.
The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, Hilma Nicanor, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Willem Isaacks, Councillor of the Berseba Constituency, Dawid Boois, and special advisers of both the governors of the Hardap and //Karas regions – Hansina Christiaans Hansina Christiaans and Lucia Basson.