Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Bank of Namibia (BoN) has organised a half-day seminar in the capital for tomorrow to discuss what a post-Covid-19 recovery may look like for Namibia.
The seminar, to be held in the capital, will host policymakers, business leaders, experts, professionals from local and international organisations and academic institutions to discuss and make recommendations on a range of issues relevant to the country’s development agenda and aspirations.
BoN spokesperson Kazembire Zemburuka says the seminar aims to provide a high-level analysis of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Namibian economy.
He says another key aspect to consider is to examine the unique challenges various sectors and businesses are faced with, as well as to lay out strategies to address these challenges in enhancing economic recovery.
“The seminar will outline specific evidence-based solutions for reviving Namibia’s economy in the short to medium term. A panel discussion will conclude the seminar, with the goal of developing a consensus position on reviving the economy as well as long-term economic development strategies for Namibia,” he says.
The panel will include Salomo Hei, the head of research at High Economic Intelligence, as well as Cirrus Capital’s Rowland Brown. Guest speaker Ricardo Hausmann will advance and explore macroeconomic interventions for Namibia as it shapes its economic recovery agenda.
Hausmann is a Rafik Hariri professor in the practice of international political economy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and the founder and director of Harvard’s Growth Lab.
He also chaired the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Development Committee and was the chief economist of the Inter-American Development Bank from 1994 to 2000, where he established a research department.
The professor is expected to base his recommendations on his influential work diversified to over 30 countries, primarily on growth strategies and diversification agendas at national and sub-national levels.
The bank’s recently appointed research and financial sector development director, Emma Haiyambo, will also participate, mainly to provide context of the Namibian economy since the dawn of Covid-19, while tracking high-frequency indicators that zero in on sectors with the potential to grow the economy and create jobs.
Commenting on the purpose of the seminar, the bank’s governor, Johannes !Gawaxab, says while acknowledging initiatives and plans under the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance for economic diversification, as well as the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, it is critical that consensus be found on what constitutes a viable economic recovery agenda for Namibia.
He says mobilising policymakers, civil society and the private sector on the singular goal of restoring job-creating growth, the seminar will provide an opportunity to connect ideas and allow better economic recovery.
Hausmann will speak on Namibia’s post-Covid recovery prospects, while Hei will attend to policy choices for this recovery. Brown will provide a critical analysis of the country’s road to recovery and possible solutions.
Key questions are: What will Namibia look like in the aftermath of Covid-19? What can be done now to better prepare for the Covid-19 recovery? How should Namibia reframe and prioritise its economic agenda? What do we need to do differently?
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