TSUMEB - The much-awaited Tsumeb shopping centre opened on Tuesday with anchor tenants such as Studio 88, Clicks, Woolworths, Edgars, Exact, Big Daddy, Dunns, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Foschini opening their doors for business.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Calle Schlettwein, who was guest of honour was delighted with the memorable event. He expressed his gratitude to management and main shareholders Reydev Holdings Namibia for making the business centre a reality.
“Our government welcomes investments of this nature as they contribute to the social and economic development of our country. This investment will go a long way to enhance and expand the availability of goods and services to the public through the business outlets located in the shopping centre,” said Schlettwein.
According to the trade minister, by building facilities such as the shopping centre the private sector is responding positively to government’s call to address challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty.
“In order to address challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment successfully the government and private sector and other development partners should work together and demonstrate a shared commitment, characterized by coordinated action plans involving the relevant stakeholders,” added Schlettwein.
He noted that private investments and economic activities complemented by social or public investments by the state – directly or through state owned enterprises – are the main forces behind sustainable economic growth, employment and wealth creation.
“The private sector clearly has a role to play not only as a catalyst for economic growth and development but also by working with government to implement national policies on the basis of public-private partnerships,” he stated.
“The private sector has the greatest potential to create value both for business and the society. Projects such as this multi-million dollar investment by Reydev Holdings Namibia have created jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for our people. The operations of this shopping mall will also generate revenue for the government and thereby contribute to the building of physical infrastructure and human capital as well as the improvement of competitiveness in our economy,” he added.
He said he took comfort in the knowledge that 95 percent of the retail space in the shopping centre was reserved and would be taken up by Namibian retailers, unlike some shopping malls being constructed in other parts of the country.
The minister said he would be even happier if the retailers conducting business from the shopping centre would also stock and sell Namibian-made products.
“This will go a long way to support local manufacturers and producers and help them expand their operations and strengthen their ability to retain and increase jobs for our people. We should do more as a country to increase the retail space of Namibian goods and products on local retail shelves.
""To achieve this, we must ensure procurement policies that seek to perpetuate market dominance practices in favour of foreign firms and suppliers are changed,” said Schlettwein.
By John Travolter Matali
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