WALVIS BAY – The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) has taken a bold step in an effort to bring Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to the country’s mainstream economic activity. Namport yesterday announced that all its tenders and projects will from now on be awarded to wholly Namibian companies or joint ventures whereby Namibians have the bigger portion. These projects or tenders could be from N$150 000 up to N$300 million.
This announcement was made shortly after, Namport and the Development Bank of Namibia signed a five-year memorandum of Understanding that will jointly address the developmental and empowerment challenges facing SMEs.
During the signing of the MoU the Chief Executive Officer of Namport, Bisey Uirab, said that Namport tenders and projects will only be awarded to companies that have a serious agenda of empowering other Namibians. “Hence, going forward all those tendering for Namport projects must either be wholly Namibian entities or they must enter into a joint venture arrangement with Namibian companies where a significant portion is with Namibians from previously disadvantaged backgrounds,” Uirab said.
He then explained that DBN and Namport have acknowledge that some of those Namibians that wish to bring in the manifold of the economic activity may not necessarily have the required capital and the know-how to readily take up the challenge.
“This is where this collaboration between Namport and the DBN comes in handy and therefore we aim to look at direct possible future provision of financing by DBN to Namport that will in the same vain assist SME’s,” Uirab explained.
According to Uirab, DBN will also assist with the financing of Namibian owned companies and SME’s where such entities have been awarded Namport tenders as well as with the possible financing of a housing development project for all Namport employees.
“This collaboration will also education and create opportunities for SME’s to gain the necessary skills and capacity for partaking in tender processes both with the Namport projects but also with other larger projects in the country.
Up to date Namport has invested over N$20 million in corporate social investment across the country.
Also speaking at the same occasion, the Chief Executive officer of DBN, Martin Inkumbi, said that will be looking at various ways to assist SMES’ that have obtained tenders from Namport as in some instances many of them do not have start-up capital.