Invest in the people: Mutorwa

WINDHOEK, 16 APR – Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa has called on Namibians to invest more in human resources alongside infrastructure, in order to develop and strengthen skills in the logistics sector.

“In order to keep up with the rapidly evolving economic environment and the introduction of advanced technical procedures such as e-commerce, e-freight and e-logistics, it is essential that the freight industry and other related sectors are able to rely on an appropriately trained talent pool,” Mutorwa said.

The minister made these remarks during the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations Diploma for Freight Forwarders graduation ceremony, where 20 candidates from the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) received certificates in the capital on Monday.
The training, through funding sourced from the African Development Bank (AfDB) by the WBCG, in partnership with their training consultant Global Maritime Legal Solutions, was done over a period of one year.

It included stakeholders in the transport and logistics sector and was aimed at providing a unique practical ability to operate proficiently in a wide variety of operational areas within the global freight forwarding industry.

WBCG Acting Chief Executive Officer Clive Smith during the same event noted that the diploma is internationally recognised as first class in professional standards and provides the graduates with the knowledge and skills they require in the industry.

“As human capital development remains a key pillar for our logistics hub success, capacity building was included in the AfDB finance agreement for the new container terminal.”

The new container terminal under construction in Walvis Bay is currently at 76 per cent completion.
According to a statement issued by Namport earlier this year, the contract is on schedule for completion of most of the works at the end of 2018, with minor works to be completed early 2019.

One of the major components of the project is the commissioning of four new ship-to-shore container cranes, making it the first time that these cranes will be deployed in the port of Walvis Bay.
Both Mutorwa and Smith urged the graduates to apply their new skills in improving themselves and their ability to deliver high-class service to customers and stakeholders, as this will greatly contribute towards Namibia’s logistics hub dream.
NAMPA