Africa-Press – Namibia. THE first micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) expo held in Windhoek recently is another indication that many Namibians are ready to produce market-ready goods, and that the local economy is gradually growing with new products being introduced.
Project coordinator Justina Kavungo says: “The Sustainable Development Goals Impact Facility (SDGIF) provided a platform for Namibian MSME’s to showcase themselves and pilot their business models and solutions.”
The expo was funded by the United Nations Development Programme Namibia, and was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade.
“The two-day event attracted several MSMEs from various sectors, such as technology, health and agriculture, and participation was free,” Kavungo says. She says some of the exhibitors received support from the SDGIF through grants for their business concepts.
The project was aimed at being a multi-stakeholder financial and capacity building platform that bridges entrepreneurship, social innovation and blended capital to create sustainable economic and social returns.
“The expo also aims to address critical challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on Namibia by strengthening the local economy, improving livelihoods, creating decent jobs, and building equitable communities,” she says.
The project has financed 66 MSMEs to the tune of N$5,7 million since its inception in November last year. In addition, the ministry aims to create an endowment fund for the SDGIF to ensure sustainability, and has therefore made N$2,5 million available towards this end, with the aim of scaling it through collaboration.
Babsy Mbere, the owner of Kanduuna Designs and Construction and one of the grant facility beneficiaries, has testified to the impact of the capital she has received on her business.
“With this funding, I have embarked on farming with pigs for commercial purposes at Witvlei, in the Omaheke region,” she says. Mbere says growing up in a farming environment, she has been dreaming of farming with pigs, and her dream has now been realised.
“In a country that has been affected by recurring droughts, especially devastating for cattle farming, I saw an opportunity to diversify farming in the region, and I urge other farmers to consider the same,” she says.
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