Iipumbu commends Germany for supporting the growth of small enterprises

The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade has received equipment worth N.dollars 3.5 million from the German government through its development and cooperation agency, GIZ, aimed at supporting small business activities.

These include eight vehicles and industrial machinery, including an industrial rotary cutter, dye sublimation printer, industrial iron and 3D printers. The donation also included laptops, printers, office chairs, laser printers and colour printers.

Industrialisation and trade minister, Lucia Iipumbu, who received the donation on Thursday, said the donation to the StartUp Namibia Project will help strengthen the capabilities of the startup ecosystem in Namibia.

“The handover of this essential equipment reflects the German government’s dedication to promoting economic growth, fostering innovation, and building a resilient business ecosystem.

“These tools and resources will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in empowering our local businesses, facilitating enterprise development and ultimately contributing to the overall development of our nation, as the ministry intends to put them to use in supporting various enterprises, especially startups and scale-ups,” she said.

The StartUp Namibia project was a joint effort between the governments of Namibia and Germany and is being implemented by the GIZ with the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology Innovation, and the City of Windhoek.

Iipumbu noted that the initial project had a lifespan of three years, starting in 2020 and officially closed its doors at the end of 2022.
The minister added that the Startup Namibia Project has been critical in supporting the improvement of the conditions for the establishment and growth of more than 150 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in selected regions.

During the COVID-19 period, the project supported 600 MSMEs, especially in the informal sector, through grant funding, which kept many businesses alive, she said.

The minister also commended Germany’s Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, the German Embassy and GIZ for their dedication and foresight to collaborate with her ministry.

“Our collaboration has resulted in identifying the areas where our nation could benefit the most, especially through the startup programme which played a significant role during the pandemic by providing much-needed support to the business communities,” she said.

(NAMPA)
AT/HP/AS

(NAMPA)