KEETMANSHOOP  – //Kharas Regional Council chairperson Joseph Isaacks says the Government Institutions Pension Fund has over the years invested over N$247 million in renewable energy, property development and home loans for //Kharas residents.

Isaacks revealed this during a GIPF stakeholder engagement forum on Tuesday, adding that the fund has invested N$5.9 billion in total across all 14 regions of Namibia.

“GIPF has been an exemplary corporate citizen to this effect by investing in projects across the country that focus on the pillars of environmental, social and governance impact. Moreover, GIPF has made substantial and material positive contributions to socio-economic development through its unlisted sector across all 14 regions while enhancing the fund’s ability to maintain solid commercial returns,” he said.

During the meeting, First Capital indicated it had funded 124 home loans in the region at N$54 million of which 119 are in Keetmanshoop, four in Lüderitz and one in Bethanie village.

GIPF’s general manager of marketing and stakeholder engagement, Edwin Tjiramba, explained that the aim of the meeting was for the fund to engage its participating employers and disseminate information on the fund so employers can in turn pass it on to their employees.

“Those in decision-making positions, if they do not understand the rules and benefits of the fund, once their staff members come and complain they will either join the choir or not give correct information, so that is why we thought of this to ensure they have the correct information,” he said.

Tjiramba added: “The fund has about N$160 billion of which 45% is invested in Namibia, but we should understand that when we are investing, we invest in avenues that give high return on our investment, because when that money is needed by our clients it should be available.”

-Nampa