Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi will undertake stakeholders consultative meetings on mid-term budget review to northern regions. While in the regions, the minister is expected to exploit an opportunity to undertake further engagements with local communities through hosting public lectures, site visits to critical businesses and hosting engagements with the business community and sectors.
According to a finance ministry statement, the conversations during these engagements will centre on highlighting government investment priorities and gathering views on potential policy propositions for the upcoming annual budget. “At the meetings, the ministry will highlight the national priorities as outlined in the NDP, HPP and other strategies,
outline key areas of national focus and importance as reflected in the budget, highlight the macroeconomic developments in the domestic and international markets as well as implications on the national resource envelope,” read the statement from finance ministry spokesperson Wilson Shikoto.
Shikoto added that as part of the stakeholder engagement, which is fundamental to the budget preparation process, the minister will undertake to engage the public through elected political office bearers, the youth representatives, the business community, organised labour representatives, professional bodies, civil society and regional government, among others.
The consultations initially commenced in Khomas and will continue to the northern regions of Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango East and West.