Manufacturing a catalyst for economic growth

PHILLEPUS UUSIKU

A dominant manufacturing sector plays a vital in terms of employment creation, boosting exports, reducing imports, strengthening the local currency and eventually enhancing economic growth.

The Namibian Manufacturers Association (NMA), on Friday, awarded manufacturers in various categories. Plastic Packaging and Guan’s Packaging scooped the two main awards of the evening. Plastic Packaging won the overall corporate manufacturer of the year award, while the overall large manufacturer of the year was scooped by Guan’s Packaging.

Other categories included most environmentally friendly award, best ambassador for manufacturing, corporate manufacturer of the year, large, medium and small manufacturer of the year.

For the environmentally friendly award, Guans Packing scooped gold, Plastic Packaging (silver) and Dinapama Manufacturing and Supplies (bronze).

Namib Mills won the best ambassador for manufacturing award, followed by Etosha Fishing Corporation (silver) and Guan’s Packaging (bronze).

In addition, for the corporate manufacturer of the year category, once again, Plastic Packaging scooped gold, followed by Meat Corporation of Namibia (silver) and Etosha Fishing Corporation (bronze).

Furthermore, Guan’s Packaging won gold in the large manufacturer of the year award, followed by Neo Paints (silver) and Namibia Plastic Convertors.

Moreover, the medium category was scooped by Namibia Polymer Recyclers, while Dinapana Manufacturing and Supplies came in second place and Cernol Chemicals in third.

Lastly, the small manufacturer of the year category was awarded to Karakulia Weavers CC, Kiyamisandz Beauty Products (silver) and Elegance Mission Investment CC (bonze).

Speaking on behalf of the minister of Industrialisation and trade Lucia Iipumbu, PeyePenda Nghaamwa, director for general services at the ministry, pointed out that the lessons learnt as result of Covid- 19 is very important for Namibia to scale up production of manufactured goods and services, to be self-sufficient.

Manufacturing remains an important catalyst for domestic economic growth that stakeholders and investors need to take serious going forward. In line with the Namibia Namibian Industrialisation policy and Growth at home Strategy, manufacturing activities in Namibia should strive to scale up value addition along the value chains of different consumable products such as pharmaceuticals products, food products just to mention a few, so that Namibia can attain self-sufficiency, he added.

This will help Namibia to be found in a better position in case of future disasters. Value addition along the different value chains if well-handled, it can boost Namibia’s economies of scale, self-reliance, economic competitiveness and most importantly economic growth, Nghaamwa [email protected]