Maria David
THE Oshikoto Regional Council and Innlandet County Council of Norway signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their working relationship and foster the existing collaboration between the two councils.
The event took place on Tuesday at the Okashana Rural Development Centre in Omuthiya.
In 2015, the two councils signed the first MoU aimed at investment in diverse sectors.
These include nurturing and developing working relations in capacity building, sharing and learning best practices, regional and local authority development planning, promoting cultures, learning support and public health.
The education aspect dominated the previous MoU, with the Innlandet County Council donating N$100 000 in 2018 to the directorate of education.
The MoU promoted the exchange of teaching and learning between schools and colleges, with more than 60 teachers from the Oshikoto Region trained in various fields of studies at universities in Norway.
Chairperson of the Oshikoto Regional Council Samuel Shivute said he strongly believes the agreement will supplement and form part of their collaborative efforts to produce desired results for the equal benefit of the institutions and countries.
Shivute also expressed gratitude to the leadership of Innlandet County Council for a wise and considerate decision regarding the renewal of their partnership amidst the devastating outbreak of Covid-19 which resulted in the economic downturn.
Head of the Innlandet County Council delegation Mona Stormoen urged all stakeholders involved to place strategic communication at the centre of all collaboration during the implementation of the agreement.
The Innlandet delegation is in the region on a three-day working trip that includes visits to the Onankali Mahangu Papermaking Project, Nakambale Museum and Ondonga Palace.
