Minister of industrialisation and trade Lucia Iipumbu says it is high time Namibians start thinking outside the box and start adding value to the county’s natural resources.
She was speaking at the official opening of the 13th Eenhana Expo in the Ohangwena region yesterday.
“I am made aware that this year’s expo has more than 200 exhibitors, and this is commendable seeing we just came out of a pandemic.
“We want to see our businesses grow from being informal activities. We must think big and always work hard to grow our businesses.
“We can only achieve this if we make deliberate efforts to diversify our business portfolios and venture into value addition to our products.
“We are too comfortable with what we know, and we do what we do best, however, we must get out of our comfort zones and do extraordinary activities that will bring us to better and improved business activities and etiquette,” Iipumbu said.
The minister said it was time to transform the country’s economy to ensure that the business sector embraces the changing times.
“Today it’s Covid-19, tomorrow it’s geopolitical tensions. We don’t know what can happen at any given time.
“We must be mindful of the fact that the business landscape is being challenged every now and then, and so we should be able to be resilient and stand the test of the time,” she said.
Ohangwena governor Walde Ndevashiya has encouraged small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participating to make use of the opportunity to create more business connections.
“The Eenhana Expo plays a vital role in strengthening the local business community, as it fosters a sense of unity among locals and national entrepreneurs.
“The expo contributes to the overall development and prosperity of the town of Eenhana and the region at large. The expo is more than just a business event, it is a catalyst for growth, collaboration and innovation.
“With its diverse range of exhibitors and networking opportunities, the expo offers a wealth of benefits for participants, especially local SMEs,” Ndevashiya said.
Local businessman and patron of the Eenhana Expo, Erastus Nikodemus, said the current global economic environment has posed a serious threat to many businesses at the town, in the country and across the globe.
“Business owners and entrepreneurs need to review their operational strategies in order to survive, as well as have the right attitude and sound business strategies to rise above the challenges,” said Nikodemus.
