Local content top priority
A 'buy local' policy with local content requirements will, in the long run, help smaller businesses to sell goods and services to government.
This was the view of trade minister Tjekero Tweya in the National Assembly last week who added that he believes this measure will ensure the effective reduction of the import bill.
According to the Trading Economics website, South Africa is Namibia's major import partner standing at 66% of total imports, followed by the Netherlands, United Kingdom and China.
Tweya is frustrated that Namibia produces many goods and services and yet import volumes are staggering.
“Namibia continues to be faced with a colossal import bill of basic foodstuffs and commodities that we should produce. The situation is no longer acceptable and it is not only goods alone but even services are imported,” said Tweya.
“Many goods and services are being produced locally including poultry, wines, chocolates, plastic products, sanitary products, cosmetics, and arts and crafts, even in the face of big imports.” Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) figures suggest that in 2017 Namibia's total exports amounted to N$63.5 million whereas imports totalled N$88 million.
Energy
Tweya added that in order to substitute energy imports with local energy sources Namibia would have to ensure new technologies are applied. He said the trade ministry in support of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, as well as in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, was instrumental in ensuring the creation of SACREEE, (Southern African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency), a SADC institution.
“One of the main objectives of SACREEE is to assess the deployment of such newer technologies to not only promote energy efficiency but also industrial efficiencies for our industrialisation efforts,” he said.
According to Tweya it is important to note that the trade ministry hosted the National Ozone Unit (NOU) which promotes the eradication of harmful gazes.
According to him some of the products that are primed to be substituted as Namibia regulates shifting the focus towards energy-saving technologies are low global warming potential equipment, air conditioners, fridges and other cooling systems.
“These have the potential to reduce the energy consumption and at the same time reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The work under the NOU will also open up manufacturing opportunities of such technologies (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industries) once the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is ratified in parliament,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
This was the view of trade minister Tjekero Tweya in the National Assembly last week who added that he believes this measure will ensure the effective reduction of the import bill.
According to the Trading Economics website, South Africa is Namibia's major import partner standing at 66% of total imports, followed by the Netherlands, United Kingdom and China.
Tweya is frustrated that Namibia produces many goods and services and yet import volumes are staggering.
“Namibia continues to be faced with a colossal import bill of basic foodstuffs and commodities that we should produce. The situation is no longer acceptable and it is not only goods alone but even services are imported,” said Tweya.
“Many goods and services are being produced locally including poultry, wines, chocolates, plastic products, sanitary products, cosmetics, and arts and crafts, even in the face of big imports.” Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) figures suggest that in 2017 Namibia's total exports amounted to N$63.5 million whereas imports totalled N$88 million.
Energy
Tweya added that in order to substitute energy imports with local energy sources Namibia would have to ensure new technologies are applied. He said the trade ministry in support of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, as well as in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, was instrumental in ensuring the creation of SACREEE, (Southern African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency), a SADC institution.
“One of the main objectives of SACREEE is to assess the deployment of such newer technologies to not only promote energy efficiency but also industrial efficiencies for our industrialisation efforts,” he said.
According to Tweya it is important to note that the trade ministry hosted the National Ozone Unit (NOU) which promotes the eradication of harmful gazes.
According to him some of the products that are primed to be substituted as Namibia regulates shifting the focus towards energy-saving technologies are low global warming potential equipment, air conditioners, fridges and other cooling systems.
“These have the potential to reduce the energy consumption and at the same time reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The work under the NOU will also open up manufacturing opportunities of such technologies (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industries) once the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is ratified in parliament,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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