Staff Reporter
IMAGINE Okahao-produced goods becoming a luxury brand in Europe! It is possible if we collectively commit to making it happen.
That was said by SWAPO parliamentarian and former deputy prime minister Natangwe Ithete on the occasion of the official opening of the Ehao Cultural Expo and Mayoral Cup at Okahao, Omusati Region, on Wednesday.
He said the Namibian government is championing an economic agenda that is pro-people, pro-growth and pro-innovation, citing the National Development Fund, the Equipment Scheme and subsidised education as deliberate efforts to make youth active participants in building a prosperous Namibia.
Photos: Valombola Vocational Training Centre – VVTC
“Gone are the days when we said ‘the youth are the leaders of tomorrow’. The youth are the leaders now,” he said.
He called on young people to invest in knowledge of emerging industries such as oil and gas, and value chains in mining and energy.
He proposed that institutions in the oil, gas, mining and energy industries be invited to future expos so that the youth of Okahao can have access to economic forecasts.
To vendors, traders and small business owners, Ithete said the expo is an opportunity to promote businesses, price goods and services fairly to attract long-term customers, investors and tourists, and form partnerships that benefit the local population first.
He used marula trees — which are abundant in Omusati — as an example of value addition through local beneficiation.
“With value addition through local beneficiation, we can have a factory producing marula liqueur, marula juice, marula organic oil, soap, etc. As a result, there will be increased job opportunities and improved livelihoods,” he said, adding that Namibia wants investors who will take “our finished products” to the African market, the European market and beyond.
