Category: Business

WINDHOEK: The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) on Tuesday launched a guide for the fatty oil industry to assist and empower local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in accessing international markets.

NIPDB executive director for talent, innovation and productivity, Julia Muetudhana, said that the Namibia Fatty Oils Export for MSMEs guide offers new entrants insights and strategies that can elevate their cosmetics exports.

‘Namibian fatty oils have successfully carved out a significant market niche in Europe, owing to their exceptional quality and diverse applications. Renowned for their purity and unique composition, fatty oils, such as marula and manketti, have gained popularity in the European cosmetic and skincare industry,’ Muetudhana said during the launch on Tuesday.

‘Through this export guide, we aim to empower MSMEs within the cosmetics sector with key insights to penetrate the European market. Ultimately, we would like to see you selling your products in major m
arkets across Europe and creating sustainable employment opportunities for Namibians,’ she added.

The guide primarily focuses on marula oil, also known for its nutritious oil, which is a valuable ingredient in beauty and skincare products. It is highly prized for its moisturizing qualities and chemical stability.

Therefore, the guide provides local enterprises with information that can support them in their export preparations to the European Union.

Muetudhana said that the guide was produced with the help of multiple partners, including the German cooperation agency, GIZ, through its BioInnovation Africa project.

On his part, GIZ’s BioInnovation Africa team leader, Klemens Riha, said that the guide will increase understanding of international trade rules and regulations.

‘The guide will also help develop capacity in the private sector, contributing to resolving obstacles that exist to get a foothold in the regional and international markets and to promote biodiversity-based enterprises,’ said Riha, who
is also responsible for climate change and the inclusive use of natural resources.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

To lower the chance of accidents and car damage, the Eenhana Town Council has started road repairs at the town.

Town spokesperson Ottilie Shingenge, in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday, said that the work is being done through the Department of Urban Development and Technical Services.

Shingenge indicated that the focus is on road works, maintenance and rehabilitation of potholes, uneven surfaces, as well as faded road markings which are likely to cause vehicles to lose control or suffer damages, that can lead to accidents.

According to Shingenge, every financial year Council makes a budget provision for road maintenance, which is fully subsidised by the Road Fund Administration.

‘The road maintenance work is done on an annual basis as we are aware that during the rainy season, roads are prone to damages, which normally results in uneven surfaces and potholes around town,’ she said.

She added that the council in this regard employs individuals or residents on a contract basis to perform the actual work
of road maintenance.

She stressed that the council did not contract a company to do road maintenance, but rather employed local people on a contract basis, of which the majority are from marginalised groups or backgrounds and they conduct this work under the supervision and with the technical department team, overseeing that the work done is up to standard.

Shingenge noted that well maintained roads are safer and reduce rates of accidents or vehicle damage.

Moreover, she stated that the economic impact is that poor road maintenance attracts fewer foreign investors, tourists and visitors alike, which results in limited development, and the town not growing as expected.

This will also mean there will be fewer economic activities because locals will find it difficult to transport their goods due to bad transmission networks.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: President Nangolo Mbumba has called on traditional leaders to embrace development and economic projects, even if some of these projects may seem unfamiliar to them.

During a meeting with leaders of the Daures Daman Traditional Authority at State House on Monday, Mbumba noted that three years ago, the concept of green hydrogen was unfamiliar in Namibia.

Today, Mumba said the emerging industry has demonstrated economic potential, while citing the Daures Green Hydrogen Village as an example. This project is expected to come into operation in July 2024 and expected to produce renewable energy, hydrogen, and ammonia.

Mbumba said traditional leaders have a role to play in economic activities including availing land to new projects in their jurisdictions.

‘That is what all of us are doing, trying things we have never seen before, we have never done before. But if those things are bringing development to our communities, to our constituencies and our country, let’s try them,’ the president said about av
ailing land to investors.

‘So we should not doubt that what we are trying to do is somehow a mistake, the land they can never take it away. They can do a few things on it but they will never take it away.’

Chief Zacharias Seibeb of the Daures Daman Traditional Authority accompanied by the management of the Daures Green Hydrogen Village including its chief executive officer Jerome Namaseb, paid a courtesy visit to President Mbumba. They briefed him on the progress of the green hydrogen project in the Erongo Region.

Chief Seibeb explained that, although he was unfamiliar with the concept, the Daures Traditional Authority made a decision to allocate 15 000 hectares to the green hydrogen project.

‘I had to put my hand in the darkness for my community and Namibians at large, this because green hydrogen was not known to myself or Namibia. But [the] little I heard from the young Namibians was not a risk or threat to the environment and the communities,’ he relayed.

‘This programme is designed to enable Namibian
s to be part of the green hydrogen as introduced to us by our partners in the project. During many consultations we had, we were excited about this new development which we foresee to bring about the much needed opportunities in the area,’ the chief said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Commissioner, James Mnyupe, has commended the advancements made at the Daures Green Hydrogen Village.

The project in the Erongo Region, and one green hydrogen initiative in the country, is expected to start producing green hydrogen, ammonia, and green tomatoes in July.

Mnyupe said on Monday that the Daures green hydrogen project’s success will be showcased at the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam, Netherlands, taking place from 13-15 May 2024.

‘The key objective of the Namibian green hydrogen programme and the Daures project would be to showcase this particular project to prospective investors. The project is really coming to the end of its pilot phase and is now looking for substantial investors to consider the feasibility of entering the industrial-scale project,’ Mnyupe said during a meeting at State House.

Jerome Namaseb, the Chief Executive Officer of Daures Green Hydrogen, said during a meeting with President Nangolo Mbumba the pilot project will be producing 18 t
ons of green hydrogen and 100 tons of ammonia per year.

He said that the project is further expected to produce green fertiliser for local consumption.

Namaseb said the firm aims to address and hopes to implement a pilot production of ammonium sulphate fertiliser.

‘It will be the first fertiliser created in the Namibian economy, which we believe will be a significant win for both aspirations around our industrialisation as well as de-risking the current exposure of our farmers to global ammonia prices,’ Namaseb said.

In 2022, Namibia and the German government signed a Joint Communique of Intent (JCOI) to provide funding worth N.dollars 816 million for pilot plant projects and capacity development projects over the course of five years.

Namaseb said the construction of the Daures project, including the pilot phase, was funded with a JCOI grant.

Mnyupe advised the government to come on board to help the project in its next phase.

‘But really, it could now be up to the Namibian government as a whole to sa
y the German government has brought this project thus far, how can we join hands to get this project to an industrial scale where we can see those thousands of jobs and the production of fertiliser,’ he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Addis Ababa: The United Nations and the African Union have called for stronger partnership and collaboration to address challenges facing Africa in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 10th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development opened in Addis Ababa today.

Speaking on the occasion, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said Africa has been facing multiple crises, including debt increase by 183 percent, that is roughly four times higher than the region’s growth rate in (U.S.) dollar terms since 2010.

According to her, the total debt service accounted for a staggering 47.5 percent of government revenue in Sub-Saharan Africa last year.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General noted that ‘the gap is enormous. An additional 4 trillion USD must be invested every year to 2030 to have a chance of achieving the SDGs globally.’

This forum came ahead of a crucial international conference in September, presenting an opportunity for African leaders to advocate for a more equitable global fin
ancial system and secure increased investments and debt relief, it was learned.

Recall that UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an SDG stimulus of at least 500 billion USD a year to scale up affordable long term financing for developing countries.

Amina insists that Africa’s leadership and collective voice will be essential to make the stimulus a reality.

African Union Commission (AUC) Deputy Chairperson, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, on her part reiterated Africa’s unwavering commitment to Agenda 2063.

She recalled that the AUC adopted the second ten-year implementation plan in February, acknowledging both the successes of the first decade and the need to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

The second plan seeks to address the emerging challenges and tap the emerging opportunities to accelerate the implementation of the Agenda.

According to her, domestic resource mobilization and stronger partnerships are key to achieving the development goals.

However, she stated that many African go
vernments have been facing self-inflicted and external challenges, and these challenges require stronger UN-AU partnership.

‘We need to go back to doing the basics of correcting all these gaps and inefficiencies, which is where our collaboration between the African Union and the United Nations is key, so that we bring back that conscious and that spirit of collaboration in our several multilateralism forum.’

Representing President Sahlework Zewdie, the Planning and Development Minister Fitsum Assefa called for prioritizing poverty eradication and the needs of the most vulnerable groups.

Eradicating poverty requires a holistic approach with substantial investments in peace building, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and sustainable livelihoods.

‘The enormous challenges we are facing today demand our resolute commitment to eradicating poverty and ensuring the delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions. (And) in doing so, we must prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable groups.’

The
forum that will be held until Thursday is aimed to serve as a platform for stakeholders to discuss solutions to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and Agenda 2063.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission, organized the three-day forum.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa will host the first African Cities Sustainability Forum in the upcoming September 2024.

The forum will be held under the theme ‘Sustainable Urbanization Planning for Africa’s Transformation – Agenda 2063,’ it was indicated.

As part of Ethiopia’s preparation to host the forum, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh held an awareness raising forum today with the African Urban Forum National Coordinating Committee.

Addis Ababa is gearing up to host the African Cities Sustainability Forum anticipated to bring about more than 1,500 participants, the deputy PM shared on a social media page.

Temesgen also stated in his message that Ethiopia, as a historic country and a founding member of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, is prepared to fulfill its African responsibility by organizing this forum of African brothers.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency