Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) president, Bisey Uirab has said that although an often-difficult task and one that requires reversing certain long entrenched economic and social practices, NCCI calls on all Namibian businesses to embrace value addition.
In a statement at the at the UNDP private sector engagement held last week, Uirab noted that NCCI stands behind the “Growth at Home” narrative – which basically says that whatever raw materials Namibia has, whether minerals; agricultural commodities or any other commodity, local value addition should take place before it is exported.
“This is because the export of raw materials equates to the export of job opportunities. We hope that the policy reform momentum of Government will be sufficient to realize the beneficiation idea and diversify the economy from an over-reliance on commodities towards industrial sectors with stronger economic links, sustainable growth and job creation potential.
“We also at the same time acknowledge that to successfully industrialize and create greater value addition for mineral downstream industries, we require greater market access and a pool of resources that we alone, as a single country, cannot achieve. As for the private sector, we equally need to weave sustainability into our business models and dedicate resources to green technologies. United, we can change the current and steer our vessel towards a green, sustainable future,” he said adding that the NCCI unequivocally supports the national emphasis on industrialization – the addition of value on Namibia’s basic resources, to facilitate broader development.
Placing emphases on the private sector to unite, Uirab expressed that the private sector cannot speak with different voices despite their diverse economic character.
He went on to say that over the recent years, there has been some good examples of the success of the private sector collective voice in advocating for certain legislative changes.
“This is depicted in the tax threshold changes that will be implemented in the next financial year as recently announced by our Hon. Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises; the extension of the tax relief program, the 24-hour Operation of the TransKalahari/Mamuno and Wenela border posts at Katima Mulilo, to mention but a few areas where the private sector engaged with the government to bring about proindustry and pro-economic growth initiatives.
“All these examples show that if various sectors of our economy come together to present their well-assessed proposals, changes can be facilitated and implemented. However, we know that more needs to be done, changed, and implemented if we are to achieve the economic growth aspiration and industrialization objectives as enshrined in our various policy documents like the Vision 2030, various National Development Plans and HPPII. It is our firm belief that the private sector and Business Namibia in general have a great role to play in this regard, and must stand together to influence, and infact drive the industrialization agenda,” explained Uirab.
The Chamber has mobilized various sectoral bodies into a committee, where they discuss cross-cutting issues, and prepare advocacy submissions to various Government ministries. The Chamber also has a Productivity Committee which comprises various sectoral players and has prepared various advocacy submissions, to various ministries including the tax thresholds while its MSME and Enterprise Development Sub-committee has been engaging the City of Windhoek on its various by-laws.
“The UNDP, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade brought us here yesterday- as the private sector and as Business Namibia from almost every sector and we highlighted various solutions that can be implemented. We appreciate this opportunity, and trust this is but the beginning of the ongoing engagements that must happen amongst the private sector players, and indeed with the policy makers as well.
“During yesterday’ session, the private sector groups prepared various inputs and suggestions in line with the various challenges and barriers they face in their respective sectors for consideration and further engagement for implementation. Thus, we should further extend this engagement at different levels and sectors by allowing access to those in charge of policies and regulatory frameworks to take note of sectoral needs and changes and facilitate timely implementation,” Uirab said.
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