School uniforms to be made locally
A textile and garment expert has been appointed to assist with the assessment of the production capacity of existing SMEs in the garment industry.
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
The ministry of industrialisation is embarking on a project that will see school uniforms being made locally. This was announced during its budget motivation by industrialisation minister Lucia Iipumbu in the National Assembly late last week.
The project will be driven in conjunction with the ministry of education. The ministry plans to phase out school uniform imports over two years.
An external expert had been appointed to drive the project on behalf of the two ministries, Iipumbu said.
“The ministry embarked on the implementation of this project by appointing a textile and garment expert to assist with the assessment of the production capacity of existing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the garment industry. We are planning to launch the project in the next six months at Nkurenkuru in the Kavango East Region,” Iipumbu said.
Cabinet in 2013 decided to phase out the importing of school uniforms, with an initial plan to manufacture 700 000 such garments in Namibia.
According to the ministry of education this was likely to create no fewer than 8 000 jobs, as the country's garment manufacturing sector kicks into gear to feed the demand for school uniforms, including shirts, trousers, jerseys and blazers, Namibian Sun reported at the time.
Charcoal also on the agenda
“The ministry will table a proposal to support more youth in the charcoal production to cabinet this year. Charcoal production will also help anchor the Biomass Industrial Park,” Iipumbu said.
This will be done in conjunction with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Finnish government, she said.
“The Biomass Industrial Park is to produce animal feed and export-grade packaged charcoal and briquettes. The ministry will also work on standards to ensure that the majority of our people are not excluded from participating in the sector. Building on the Charcoal Strategy of 2016 the ministry will work on a Biomass Sector Development Policy for completion in 2021,” she said.
Industrialised infrastructure
The scarcity and high cost of serviced industrial land in most parts of the country made it extremely difficult to promote investment opportunities and industrial development, Iipumbu said.
According to Iipumbu, the ministry’s Industrial Infrastructure Development programme is aimed at ensuring the availability of industrial premises and related infrastructure.
The ministry, through the Namibia Industrial Development Agency [NIDA], has established 49 SME and industrial Parks countrywide, accommodating 676 business operators.
“These operators have created jobs for 5 088 people on a permanent basis and during the construction phase of these parks, 7 277 jobs were created,” the minister added.
WINDHOEK
The ministry of industrialisation is embarking on a project that will see school uniforms being made locally. This was announced during its budget motivation by industrialisation minister Lucia Iipumbu in the National Assembly late last week.
The project will be driven in conjunction with the ministry of education. The ministry plans to phase out school uniform imports over two years.
An external expert had been appointed to drive the project on behalf of the two ministries, Iipumbu said.
“The ministry embarked on the implementation of this project by appointing a textile and garment expert to assist with the assessment of the production capacity of existing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the garment industry. We are planning to launch the project in the next six months at Nkurenkuru in the Kavango East Region,” Iipumbu said.
Cabinet in 2013 decided to phase out the importing of school uniforms, with an initial plan to manufacture 700 000 such garments in Namibia.
According to the ministry of education this was likely to create no fewer than 8 000 jobs, as the country's garment manufacturing sector kicks into gear to feed the demand for school uniforms, including shirts, trousers, jerseys and blazers, Namibian Sun reported at the time.
Charcoal also on the agenda
“The ministry will table a proposal to support more youth in the charcoal production to cabinet this year. Charcoal production will also help anchor the Biomass Industrial Park,” Iipumbu said.
This will be done in conjunction with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Finnish government, she said.
“The Biomass Industrial Park is to produce animal feed and export-grade packaged charcoal and briquettes. The ministry will also work on standards to ensure that the majority of our people are not excluded from participating in the sector. Building on the Charcoal Strategy of 2016 the ministry will work on a Biomass Sector Development Policy for completion in 2021,” she said.
Industrialised infrastructure
The scarcity and high cost of serviced industrial land in most parts of the country made it extremely difficult to promote investment opportunities and industrial development, Iipumbu said.
According to Iipumbu, the ministry’s Industrial Infrastructure Development programme is aimed at ensuring the availability of industrial premises and related infrastructure.
The ministry, through the Namibia Industrial Development Agency [NIDA], has established 49 SME and industrial Parks countrywide, accommodating 676 business operators.
“These operators have created jobs for 5 088 people on a permanent basis and during the construction phase of these parks, 7 277 jobs were created,” the minister added.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article