WALVIS BAY – The role the private sector plays in economic development and employment creation in Namibia cannot be over emphasised and therefore all Namibians need to support the private sector for its continued investment in the country and specifically Walvis Bay.
This is according to the mayor of Walvis Bay, Uilika Nambahu, who said investors have shown a clear vote of confidence in the country’s efforts to develop Walvis Bay as a regional logistics hub.
Nambahu was speaking at the opening of Deloitte and Touche’s regional branch at the town last week.
According to Nambahu this investment marks a significant milestone not only for the company but for the Erongo Region as well, as it re-affirms the potential and economic wealth the town will offer during and after its transformation as a regional logistics hub. “I consider this investment a clear vote of confidence in our country in terms of industrialisation, job creation and development. This also symbolises your commitment to the SADC region and signifies your confidence in Walvis Bay as a key player in the region and the rest of the world,” she said.
She also applauded the private sector for serving as an example to other sectors.
“We must understand the role of the private sector in particular when it comes to reaching the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP4), namely high and sustained economic growth, employment creation and increased income equality. However, there is still some work to be done to strengthen public financial management systems and improve the business environment in order to enhance our country’s competitiveness and capacity to mobilize the much needed foreign direct investment and financial resources,” stated the Walvis Bay mayor.
Also speaking at the event country manager Erwin Tjipuka said having a presence at the coast will enable them to service clients in Erongo more actively and contribute to the country’s development.
“This move is not only in line with the firm’s vision to be the leading professional service firm in Namibia but will also complement the firm’s African vision to become a truly pan-African firm that will be able to provide seamless services to our clients across the continent,” he said.