Third annual focus on PPPs

In spite of the small size of its economy, Namibia can also reap major benefits from Public Private Partnerships.“Reliable and affordable infrastructure is critical for high levels of efficiency in in the economy,” explains Saurabh Suneja, director for public private partnerships at the ministry of finance. “It is also a necessary condition for creating a pro-growth and investment friendly environment.”According to Suneja the government has a key responsibility to ensure delivery of public services – such as electricity, roads, water supply and other municipal services – at acceptable standards to citizens. “Traditionally, governments have been directly and exclusively involved in delivering such public services, but the pace at which the government can develop additional infrastructure is limited by the amount of fiscal space. Through PPPs, we can leverage private sector finances to meet development needs in our economy.”Such investments, says Suneja, can be used in priority areas.EXAMPLES FROM ELSEWHERE IN AFRICAThe latest edition of Africa Renewal emphasises the contribution PPPs can make towards reaching the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The article “Partnerships at work in Africa” uses the construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal in the port of Tema in Ghana as a prime example of the benefits of PPPs. Due to power rationing electricity is cut every two days for 24 hours. This US$600 million project will add about 220 megawatts to Ghana’s national grid.Another example used is the Henri Konan Bédié bridge in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This US$265 million bridge opened in 2014 has done away with over 10 kilometres of traffic congestion and it is used daily by about a hundred thousand vehicles.Africa Renewal quotes a report by the African Development Bank (AfDB) which states that in many African countries PPPs are still in its initial stages. The AfDB says PPPs are historically scarcer in sub-Saharan Africa than in the rest of the world.THE WHO’S WHOThe annual PPP conference is co-organised by the ministry of finance, Standard Bank Namibia and PricewaterhouseCoopers Namibia. The aim, explains Suneja, is to create a platform where senior government representatives, private sector investors and other relevant stakeholders can deliberate on fundamental aspects of the successful implementation of PPP projects.Thursday’s event will include discussions on legislative and policy matters, provide learning models from other regions and insights into projects that are under preparation.The conference is expected to be opened by Calle Schlettwein, the minister of finance. The panellists are: Thomas Daughton, US ambassador to Namibia, Sir Michael Bear (British Expertise), Andrew Shaw (PwC), Swee Ee Ang (World Bank), Milosz Mogilnicki (US Treasury), Lena Mangondo (IPP Office South Africa), Foibe Namene (Electricity Control Board) and Rentia van Tonder (Standard Bank).* Saurabh has 14 years of experience in the fields of Public Private Partnerships, regional infrastructure planning, developing and advising on policies and regulations related to infrastructure, contract management and negotiation, feasibility assessment, risk analysis, investment strategy, bid and transaction advisory, and capacity building. He has worked with the private and public sectors in 12 countries in Asia and Africa. He worked with CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory in India for 11 years.

Third annual focus on PPPs

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Republikein 2025-04-21

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Third annual focus on PPPs

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