SWAKOPMUND, Namibia, July 16 — Namibia‘s Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus voiced strong support for international collaboration in the media sector, stressing its pivotal role in broadening the reach of Namibian news while giving local audiences access to global information.
As the inaugural Effective Communicators Conference kicked off on Wednesday in the coastal city of Swakopmund, Theofelus joined an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the three-day event.
“We welcome any and all partnerships with agencies from our sister countries or countries outside the continent because this allows us to have further reach in terms of audiences around the news that we report in Namibia,” she said, noting that it also gives the country access to news from outside Namibia for the local market and consumers.
Theofelus emphasized the role of these partnerships in overcoming geographical and cultural barriers. “It can transcend the diverse cultures that exist in our various countries and communities.
This partnership and this conference will strengthen that collaborative effort between news agencies across the world,” she added.
Such cooperative efforts, especially those fostered by conferences, will greatly enhance collaboration among global news agencies, according to Theofelus.
The first edition of the Effective Communicators Conference brought together over 250 professionals from both the public and private sectors, aiming to strengthen the capacity of those responsible for promoting and communicating the visions and objectives of government institutions, state-owned enterprises, and private organizations.
Theofelus told Xinhua that the gathering marks a critical turning point for Namibia, particularly given that Namibia leads in renewable energy, the green hydrogen industry, and oil discovery.
“I believe this is important for communicators to learn the best practices to hone in on some skills on how to engage with diverse and multiple consumers of news and how to frame Namibia as the country that we are and that is ready for investors to come and invest,” said the minister.
Looking at new programs or mechanisms to enhance information sharing between the Namibian government, institutions, local businesses, and international media outlets like Xinhua, the minister said this conference is the first step to initiating discussions between stakeholders.
“We have a government communication strategy that we will be launching soon that is meant to guide how the government communicates to the private sector and to citizens,” she added.
Running through Friday, the conference features various cluster sessions with engaging topics designed to change how Namibia tells its story about key economic enablers. (Xinhua)
