EDITORIAL: NIDP must play its role
The Namibia Investment Development Board celebrated 1 000 days in existence on Friday, an occasion used by the board’s leadership to sing the institution's praises.
While the board has made inroads since its inception, it still faces daunting challenges and constant public questioning as to whether it will deliver on its investment attraction mandate.
For years, Namibia has yearned for investors to come set up shop in Namibia in order to help grow the country’s relatively small economy and create much-needed jobs, but to little avail.
On Friday, the board’s CEO, Nangula Uaandja, sought to clarify the role of the board and how it fits into the country’s investment space.
This comes amid criticism that the board has yet to deliver tangible results as far as investment is concerned, despite millions spent on its operations.
It is indeed time for the board to show the public that its creation is justified and that it is not just a mere job creation entity. The investment roadshows held over the years have also resulted in high expectations from taxpayers.
The board must pursue investment in key sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, mining and technology. This will require devising smart strategies and incentives for potential investors, especially considering that there are other competing countries fighting for the same investment opportunities.
While the board has made inroads since its inception, it still faces daunting challenges and constant public questioning as to whether it will deliver on its investment attraction mandate.
For years, Namibia has yearned for investors to come set up shop in Namibia in order to help grow the country’s relatively small economy and create much-needed jobs, but to little avail.
On Friday, the board’s CEO, Nangula Uaandja, sought to clarify the role of the board and how it fits into the country’s investment space.
This comes amid criticism that the board has yet to deliver tangible results as far as investment is concerned, despite millions spent on its operations.
It is indeed time for the board to show the public that its creation is justified and that it is not just a mere job creation entity. The investment roadshows held over the years have also resulted in high expectations from taxpayers.
The board must pursue investment in key sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, mining and technology. This will require devising smart strategies and incentives for potential investors, especially considering that there are other competing countries fighting for the same investment opportunities.
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Namibian Sun
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