Making gains from manufacturing
Namibia's policies for the development of the manufacturing sector are good but, streamlining and implementation fall short.
Namibia recently played host to the Southern African Development Community's Industrialisation Week.
With this event, which was held last week under the theme 'Promoting Infrastructure Development for Sustainable Development', Namibian Sun saw it fit to gain insight from the Namibian Manufacturers Association on whether Namibia was making significant inroads.
Its CEO, Ronnie Varkevisser, took stock of Namibia's gains in the manufacturing sector but also added that there was great room for improvement needed to propel Namibia forward as a manufacturing giant.
“We do have great policies in place. However, if you look at the Growth at Home Strategy for instance, even if we only implement half of what is contained in that document the manufacturing industry will benefit tremendously and will indeed start to become a key pillar of the economy as envisaged in Vision 2030, NDP 5, and the Harambee Prosperity Plan to mention but a few,” said Varkevisser.
According to him, there needs to be more collaborative efforts between the various role players in government which include the various ministries, offices and agencies.
“Government needs to get a holistic picture of manufacturing, and in that holistic picture, different government ministries and agencies need to be aligned to reach the same outcome as per the action plans and policies.”
He also encouraged more interaction between government and the private stakeholders.
“Although government is consulting with the private sector on certain issues, this interaction should receive even more attention, and the contribution and/or input by the private sector should be incorporated more in the 'action plans' of the various policies to enhance growth in the economy and thereby create more job opportunities,” said Varkevisser.
He also encouraged government to build more synergies internally to help improve programme outcomes.
“Manufacturing is one of the key pillars in our economy and thus should receive the focus and support it deserves when formulating and executing our various industrial policies such as the Growth at Home initiative.”
He encouraged government to simplify its approach to manufacturing. “To overcome certain challenges in the manufacturing industry we should try to 'Keep it short and simple'. We should also focus on sorting out the problem, not the blame.”
OGONE TLHAGE
With this event, which was held last week under the theme 'Promoting Infrastructure Development for Sustainable Development', Namibian Sun saw it fit to gain insight from the Namibian Manufacturers Association on whether Namibia was making significant inroads.
Its CEO, Ronnie Varkevisser, took stock of Namibia's gains in the manufacturing sector but also added that there was great room for improvement needed to propel Namibia forward as a manufacturing giant.
“We do have great policies in place. However, if you look at the Growth at Home Strategy for instance, even if we only implement half of what is contained in that document the manufacturing industry will benefit tremendously and will indeed start to become a key pillar of the economy as envisaged in Vision 2030, NDP 5, and the Harambee Prosperity Plan to mention but a few,” said Varkevisser.
According to him, there needs to be more collaborative efforts between the various role players in government which include the various ministries, offices and agencies.
“Government needs to get a holistic picture of manufacturing, and in that holistic picture, different government ministries and agencies need to be aligned to reach the same outcome as per the action plans and policies.”
He also encouraged more interaction between government and the private stakeholders.
“Although government is consulting with the private sector on certain issues, this interaction should receive even more attention, and the contribution and/or input by the private sector should be incorporated more in the 'action plans' of the various policies to enhance growth in the economy and thereby create more job opportunities,” said Varkevisser.
He also encouraged government to build more synergies internally to help improve programme outcomes.
“Manufacturing is one of the key pillars in our economy and thus should receive the focus and support it deserves when formulating and executing our various industrial policies such as the Growth at Home initiative.”
He encouraged government to simplify its approach to manufacturing. “To overcome certain challenges in the manufacturing industry we should try to 'Keep it short and simple'. We should also focus on sorting out the problem, not the blame.”
OGONE TLHAGE
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