By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK With the renovation, extension and refurbishing of the Wernhil Park Shopping Centre at a cost of N$140 million, the Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies have met the government’s call for increased local investment into the economy. This was said by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, at the official inauguration of the shopping centre on Monday evening. “Your company has gone further to address the government’s call for companies to engage increasingly in activities that would ensure value addition in our economy. “Furthermore, your company’s recent gesture in donating one of its farms to its former employees, has demonstrated that Ohlthaver & List is indeed a truly Namibian company determined to be part of national efforts of steering our country to greater heights,” Ngatjizeko said. The minister said his ministry had since Independence devoted itself to the development and efficient management of the country’s economic and regulatory framework. “My ministry is responsible for promoting the growth and development of our economy through the formulation and implementation of policies that will attract investment, increase trade and develop our country’s industrial base. “Our two main objectives are the development and diversification of our economy in order to attain the requisite levels of efficiency and competitiveness,” said the minister. Investment promotion forms a key pillar in efforts to stimulate economic growth and expedite socio-economic development inside the country. “Our government promotes a spirit of private enterprise and entrepreneurship as a vehicle for job creation, innovation and industrialisation, thereby contributing to the attainment of Vision 2030.” He assured the business community that the government continued to enhance the country’s attractiveness through a liberal investment policy, tax and non-tax incentives as well as incentives for manufacturers and exporters. “While the government has created an economic environment characterised by political stability, the rule of law and the full protection of investment, private enterprises in the national economy and stakeholders are called upon to capitalise on these opportunities. “We share a common destiny and should work as a collaborative team in order to promote the country’s economic development.” The minister praised the company for investing more than N$300 million into the capital’s CBD over the past four years. “During the upgrading of this shopping center some 400 direct and indirect job opportunities were created and in the process local skills were utilised and innovation applied in the applicable design functions. ÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚ÂTrue wealth was thus created. I wish to urge all property developers and owners in the CBD to work together in efforts to consolidate it as the economic, social and cultural heart of the capital as well as to contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the city,” he said. The minister said that it was critical for large and well established enterprises such as Ohlthaver & List to ensure that smaller contractors were engaged in projects such as the upgrading of the Wernhil Park Shopping Centre. “It is only fair that the strong players of our economy should reach out to those smaller and formerly disadvantaged businesspeople, who are capable and determined to succeed in their business pursuits,” Ndgatjizeko said. He announced that the government would later this year hold an international investors’ conference in the country. The Deputy Mayor of Windhoek, Elaine Trepper, was one of the many invited guests who attended the event that was formalised with a fire display and confetti.