The Equipment Aid Scheme (EAS), being implemented through the industrialisation and trade ministry, has been extended to 29 September 2023.  Applications for the aid scheme were initially due on 15 September 2023 but have since been extended country-wide. Respective small businesses have been urged to apply in the region in which they operate. 

“In a nutshell, the public announcement seeks to notify all interested applicants for equipment aid that the deadline had been extended to 29 September to give more time to everyone interested in applying to do so,” stated ministry spokesperson Elijah Mukubonda. 

Through the scheme, the ministry invited small businesses to apply for assistance in the form of equipment and machinery for specific sectors.

These sectors for consideration include manufacturing (garment and metal fabrication), agro-food processing, gemstone processing (including small mining), pharmaceutical and cosmetics as well as refrigeration and air conditioning. 

Interested small businesses should meet various criteria, including being 100% Namibian-owned, being registered with BIPA and having tax clearance, amongst others. 

In addition, the business should have been operational for at least a year, and requested amounts should not exceed N$30 000, with applicants liable for 10% of the assistance requested.  Further, businesses should be first-time EAS and other applicable programme recipients.