PM ups tempo on regional manufacturing

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, accompanied by finance minister Ericah Shafudah, on Friday met with the leadership of the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and the University of Namibia (Unam) to review progress on the agriprocessing targets set out in the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).

The meeting resolved to develop and finance a series of region-specific agro-industrial projects, including a mango processing plant in the Zambezi Region, a watermelon processing plant in Kavango East, a tomato and seed processing plant in Omusati, and a peanut butter processing plant in Omaheke. The government will also support the expansion of the Okapuka livestock processing facility north of Windhoek.

The projects form part of government's broader strategy to add value to locally produced agricultural commodities, create jobs and stimulate regional industrialisation. Similar manufacturing initiatives are expected to be rolled out across the country's remaining regions.