Outlining its agenda for 2022 during their annual general meeting this week, Team Namibia’s Business Manager at Outsol Solutions, Sidney Hanstein, said the organisation is ready to be a relevant and influential voice of business, products, and industries in Namibia. Team Namibia is a member-based non-profit movement aimed at mobilising Namibian consumers to buy local, as well as driving the promotion of the production of quality local products and services.
“We are aiming to increase Team Namibia’s member base through creating awareness of services offered and benefits to members because the member base decreased due to the impact of Covid-19. Members couldn’t keep up with paying their membership fees,” Hanstein explained.
He added one of the goals for the year is to be a conduit for their members to engage with state-owned enterprises: “We are meeting with executives and their procurement teams on how to empower local businesses to offer their products or services to the state-owned enterprises. This includes discussions to empower TN-members with potential to service or provide products to state-owned enterprises”.
Basic criteria to be a Team Namibia member are that 90% of staff employed at the company should be Namibians, the company should contribute to Namibian economy, and should be in good standings with the Social Security Commission and Receiver of Revenue.
Finance coordinator Johan Malan said the effect of the pandemic on Team Namibia’s books was heavily felt.
“We spent over N$700 000 on debt in 2020, and the books were impacted negatively after many members failed to pay their fees. But we remain confident that this year, income will come to normal ways as we expect a surplus of over N$292 000 for 2022,” said Malan.
At the same occasion, Team Namibia Coordinator Jane Kandetu noted that shopping local creates jobs, keeps money in the economy, and invests in entrepreneurship.