Day: July 4, 2024

About 150 exhibitors including corporates, Small and Medium Enterprises, vendors as well as Offices, Ministries, and Agencies are exhibiting their products and services at this year’s Swakopmund International Trade Exposition (SWAiTEX).

Launched in 2012, the expo has become an annual event that provides a unique platform to showcase product and service offerings for local and international enterprises.

Speaking at the official opening of the week-long expo at Swakopmund on Wednesday, Bisey Uirab, President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce (NCCI) which organises the event, said assessments indicate that the event provides enormous opportunities for trading, networking, insightful policy, best practice information, and brand marketing, amongst many other benefits.

‘At the same time, it provides a platform for insightful engagements with policy makers and other industry players. The wide-ranging interest and attendance beyond this region of Erongo and Namibia offers an opportunity for participating entities
to tap and serve this diverse SADC market and increases brand awareness beyond the geographical boundaries,’ he expressed.

He added that NCCI regards its advocacy role of engaging with government to ensure that the environment is conducive for the private sector to thrive and make a meaningful contribution to the country’s economic development.

Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at the same event urged for trade expos such as this to be taken advantage of, to turn the African continent’s necessity to its advantage.

‘This means making African products our preferred products and building partnerships regionally and across the continent to service our common market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

That would not just create efficient pathways to economic growth; they constitute essential components of sustainable development, enhancing the required levels and quality of cooperation and inclusivity,’ Botchwey added.

This year’s SWAiTE
X takes place under the theme: ‘Efficient Connectivity and Resource Beneficiation for Sustainable Growth in Africa’, a theme which is said to resonate with the vision for deepening African integration as outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063: ‘The Africa We Want’.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Windhoek Mayor Queen Kamati on Tuesday acknowledged the significant economic and social contributions of the cultural and creative industries to Windhoek’s economy.

Kamati, while reviewing the current affairs and developments that took place in Windhoek since the last Council meeting in May, emphasised the council’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for all by rendering efficient and effective municipal services.

The mayor in her remarks at the ordinary council meeting highlighted that the events include President Nangolo Mbumba’s visit to open markets and the Katutura Old Age Home last week.

‘This was an exciting platform for our residents to interact with the Head of State and an opportunity to acquaint himself with the trading environments in Windhoek,’ she said.

Kamati further added that the City of Windhoek in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), hosted the Urban Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction workshop last month, which was aimed at
building an understanding of the ever-increasing role of urban disaster risk reduction.

Other developments include the third edition of TechNovation hosted in collaboration with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) to recognise innovative artistic expressions across the cultural and creative industries, including music, writing, performance arts, design, and technological innovation.

‘Herewith, Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, highlighted the creative industry’s role as a catalyst for economic growth and social development, emphasising its potential to generate employment opportunities, particularly for young people. I am happy that our communities and stakeholders continue to show interest and continued participation in the success of our city’s governance,’ said Kamati.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Following public outcry over the increased electricity tariffs, Electricity Control Board (ECB) Chief Executive Officer Robert Kahimise has announced that consumers will continue paying the approved tariffs for 2023/2024 instead of the new increased tariffs for 2024/2025.

Briefing the media here on Wednesday, Kahimise said this follows government’s allocation of N.dollars 365 million to subsidise electricity consumers for the 2024/2025 financial year effective 01 July to 30 June 2025.

Kahimise indicated that in line with Section 27 of the Electricity Act No 4 of 2007, the Board approved an effective 8 per cent bulk electricity tariff for the Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) for the financial year 2024/2025, which was announced on 26 April 2024. The tariff approvals for the major distribution utilities were then announced on 27 June 2024.

The ECB Board will allow licensees to deviate from the approved 2024/2025 approved schedule of tariffs as per Section 27(3) of the Electricity Act, he explai
ned.

He further explained that approximately N.dollars 221 million of the N.dollars 365 million has been set aside to assist NamPower to execute its mandate and to ensure uninterrupted security of electricity supply.

Kahimise added that the remaining N.dollars 144 million will be utilised by the distribution utilities to lessen the impact of the electricity tariff on their customers for the said period.

‘As such, the public is hereby informed that the ECB will engage the licensees on the modalities for recovering their approved revenue requirements for the 2024/2025 financial year,’ he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Over 600 employees of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) have rejected a 5.4 per cent once-off payment proposal by their management.

This follows negotiations held on Wednesday between the NIDA management and Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union representatives after regional and headquarter staff downed tools on Wednesday.

According to shop steward Marvin Tjikongo, wage and employment condition demands were sent to management last May, but fell on deaf ears. Employees were still striking on Thursday.

Tjikongo told Nampa that for grade A, the employees want an increment of 12 per cent, 10 per cent for grade B and eight per cent for C. They further demand a fixed amount of N.dollars 2 500 for seasonal employees.

‘On top of the normal transport allowance which is currently N.dollars 300 for our staff farming with cattle, grapes and dates production, we demand another N.dollars 300. For head office workers, we demand N.dollars 500 for transport allowance. On the housing allowance, we
ask for an extra N.dollars 500 for workers who do not reside in the company’s houses,’ Tjikongo explained.

NIDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Richwell Lukonga said in an interview with Nampa that the company can only afford the 5.4 per cent once-off payment.

‘That is where we are now. Negotiations are a give and take. That is all we can afford at the moment, but we will re-engage the union. The company has a cash flow situation so we can’t afford the demands made,’ Lukonga said.

Tjikongo has, in the meantime expressed disappointment, saying management did not consider any increment or employment condition.

‘They basically just want to give us a token. We consulted with our colleagues who are not in favour of this development and we decided we will continue with the strike, unless they decide to give us a 5.5 per cent increment on top of the once-off payment. We further demand at least an additional N.dollars 200 increment for transport allowance, to meet the company halfway,’ Tjikongo said in an interview.

S
ource: The Namibia Press Agency

The newly introduced electricity tariffs by the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (Cenored) in the areas of its operation will be reversed as of midnight on 04 July 2024.

Cenored’s Communications and Marketing Officer, Chali Matengu, in a media statement on Thursday said the government, through the Electricity Control Board (ECB), announced a plan to subsidise electricity prices with N.dollars 356 million across the board for the 2024/2025 financial year, and with this subsidy, Cenored has no choice but to reconsider and reverse its decision on the new electricity tariffs.

Cenored last Friday announced its new electricity tariffs which increased by 6 per cent as of 01 July this year.

Matengu explained that Cenored, which supplies electricity to the regions of Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Kunene, and part of Oshikoto, had applied for a tariff increase of 7.5 per cent at ECB, which in turn approved a 6 per cent increase, adding that this was so because the national bulk electricity supplier, NamPower
also increased its electricity tariffs.

Matengu further said the tariff hikes were also due to rising operational costs, maintenance expenses and investment required in upgrading the power grid for uninterrupted power supply to customers.

He said the 6 per cent tariff increase only affected customers in the domestic prepaid tariff category, who had to pay N.dollars 2.79 per unit, compared to the previous N.dollars 2.62 they paid per unit.

The reversal means customers will continue to pay N.dollars 2.62 per unit.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency