The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) is pursuing a strategy to promote and facilitate the participation of Namibians in the mainstream activities at the country’s ports.

This means from now on all Namport tenders will require mandatory participation of Namibian-registered entities, whereby Namibians hold at least 51 percent effective ownership of the tendering entity.

At least 30 percent of such an entity must consist of previously disadvantage Namibians or must be in a joint venture format.

Namport CEO Bisey Uirab made the announcement here last week, saying the company’s board of directors, management and staff have heeded government’s recent call for employment creation and poverty reduction.

Based on this, Uirab said Namport has decided to pursue a strategy to promote and facilitate the participation of Namibians in the mainstream activities of the ports. “This can only be possible by changing our approach towards the procurement of goods and services so that historical economic imbalances can be bridged and that Namibians can meaningfully participate in the development of our economy,” Uirab stated in his statement.

According to Uirab, it can never be overemphasized that historical imbalances remain an imperative aspect and Namibia can only develop self-sustainability through concerted facilitation and empowerment of the Namibians in the core activities of the economy.

“Namport is committed to play its part in this regard by changing its procurement criteria. However, this does not preclude non-Namibians and/or previously disadvantage Namibians’ participation in tenders, but rather promotes meaningful joint ventures and broader participation of Namibians in Namport’s procurement,” Uirab explained.

He added that Namport also acknowledges that certain goods and services by their nature and in light of the development stage of Namibia’s local capacity can only still be supplied by foreign companies. “In such instances, foreign companies intending to apply for tenders are required to join with Namibian entities in order to comply,” he said.

He added that this would allow skills transfer and put Namibia in a better position to be self-provisioning.

Uirab further reported that since Namport implemented this drive in August last year there has been exponential growth in the value of goods and services now being procured from Namibian-owned companies and entities.

“Historically complex activities within the port of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz are now being done by locals while meaningful and successful joint ventures are being conceived between local entities and foreign companies,” Uirab said.

He added that a public forum whereby the procurement strategy would be further explained to the public would take place in due course.