By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK Given that many countries around the world are increasingly harnessing new technologies to improve service delivery, Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings with its subsidiaries were urged to remain innovative to ensure that Namibia does not lag behind. President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who appealed for innovation, said the application of new technologies has the potential to improve the delivery of efficient services in public institutions. “I urge you to examine ways and means in which the telecommunications sector in which you are fully active can become a catalyst for more efficient delivery of public services,” he said. Though Telecom Namibia has for the past years expanded its services to the different parts of the country, the President felt there is a need to highly consider the issue of reliability and affordability. He said efficient telecommunication services can act as an efficient catalyst in different sectors. He singled out education as one area that can benefit immensely from the use of new technologies. “It has already been demonstrated that a lecture given in Windhoek at Unam can be beamed to students at Oshakati’s Unam campus via a video link.” This, Pohamba added, can help the country utilise the limited resources at the country’s disposal in an efficient manner. Many people in the country are still hungry for access to such services and along with his Government, Pohamba expects Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings to respond to these needs based on their mandate. “Our people who have not yet been reached by your services are expecting you to move speedily in providing post and telecommunication services to their localities,” he reminded the service providers. Such developments do not only help to keep families in touch but also are vital for economic activities by facilitating contacts between entrepreneurs and their suppliers as well as customers. “By their nature, postal and telecommunication services have both social and economic dimensions, as such delivery of efficient services by the company is not only good for the economy, it is also good for our society as a whole.” Just recently, Telecom Namibia opened five Teleshops in the northern towns and one in the capital. The new tailor-made shops are designed to suit the needs of customers. The layout and dÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚©cor are designed to give the customer that friendly touch, Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Stephanus Mogotsi indicated when he officially inaugurated the out- lets. The President congratulated the management and staff of Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings for the decision taken in constructing a complex that will accommodate all its subsidiaries thereby improving the levels of coordination and information sharing. The Head of State was speaking during the official opening of the complex of Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings in Oshakati.