Maria David
THE Ongwediva Town Council has raised an amount of N$1,374,381.25 during a gala dinner held recently in the town.
MTC, as the main sponsor, pledged an amount of N$380,000, followed by Standard Bank with N$250,000, and First National Bank and Luck Bet with N$150,000 each.
The OATF is planned for 23-31 August 2024, and is being held under the theme: “Bridging Tradition and Innovation.”
NAMDIA CEO Alisa Amupolo said bridging innovation and tradition is a fascinating and multifaceted topic that touches various fields, from construction and education to leadership and cultural practices.
Amupolo indicated that traditions are the threads that weave the fabric of their communities, offering stability in an ever-changing world.
“They remind us of where we come from and guide us in making decisions that honour our heritage,” she said.
She added that the challenge and opportunity before them are to harmonize these two powerful forces: to preserve the richness of their traditions while harnessing the potential of innovation to create, capture, and sustain value from their tradition and build a sustainable and prosperous future.
Amupolo also added that by leveraging their heritage and embracing modern advancements without compromising their values, they can chart a course for sustainable development that honours their past and inspires their future.
Ongwediva Mayor Taarah Shalyefu said the development of the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair shall not be complete without the socio-economic development of Ongwediva as an urban centre.
To this end, Shalyefu indicated that they have adopted various strategic themes to propel the development of the town to the next level.
Shalyefu then singled out three of these strategic themes that are directly related to the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair: Community Development, Local Economic Development, and the preservation of the environment that serves as their habitat.
“We will soon unveil our Strategic Plan 2024, in which key areas of development are articulated, notably the development of land for housing, expansion of services infrastructure, construction of a multi-million sports facility and leisure park, and the upgrading of our Open Market, just to mention a few,” he said.
Standard Bank North West Regional Manager Hendrick van Wyk indicated that they are proud to be identified with this extraordinary initiative which continuously supports the growth and sustainability of small and medium Namibian business enterprises.
“In addition, the OATF provides active dialogue between all participants and establishes direct contact with buyers, whose main aim is enhancing the development and strength of Namibia,” he said.
He stressed that the OATF is the platform that provides endless possibilities.
