Africa faces greater need of industrialisation: Mbumba

ONGWEDIVA, 28 AUG – Vice President Nangolo Mbumba said at no point in Africa’s history has there been a greater need for industrialisation than now.
Mbumba made this remark whilst officially opening the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) at Ongwediva in the Oshana Region on Monday.
The Ongwediva Town Council is hosting the 19th edition of the OATF under the theme ‘Creating an Enabling Environment for Industrialised Local Economy’.
According to Mbumba, it is clear that if Africa is to achieve her development agenda, the nations on the continent need to accelerate the industrialisation of their economies.
“Let us seriously look at resource-based industrialisation because we have a comparative advantaged in terms of resources,” said Mbumba.
He added that a resource-based industrial revolution is where Africans should start to deliver on the promise of prosperity, new jobs and economic emancipation.
He pointed out that Namibia has embarked on the second struggle, that of economic emancipation, in which industrialisation has been identified as the first vital step towards true economic freedom.
“It is within this context that we are inviting the private sector to fulfil their role of creating new industries and business which will significantly change the fundamental substructure of the Namibian economy for better.”
Mbumba used the platform to urge both the government and private sector to jointly help to rescue the Oshikango border suburb of Helao Nafidi Town in the Ohangwena Region from drastic declining economic activities and job losses.
Oshikango used to be a bustling hub of commercial activities for Ohangwena, but it has now reduced due to declined cross-border trade between Namibia and Angola over the recent years.
Mbumba concluded by urging exhibitors and visitors to take advantage of the prospects that are provided by the OATF to grow their business networks and to support the government’s vision of industrialisation.
The OATF started its activities on Friday with 450 local and foreign exhibitors showcasing their products and services until this coming Saturday. – NAMPA