Martin Endjala
President Nangolo Mbumba, during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), revealed that to date, 90 percent of fishing rights are owned by Namibians and that the sector employs an estimated 18,000 Namibians.
He said the promotion of Namibianisation in the fisheries sector is progressing well. Additionally, the government has successfully implemented the employment redressing programme which employs 2,367 people.
Mbumba emphasised that the move is a sustainable job opportunity initiative, addressing the challenges of joblessness experienced by former fishermen since 2015.
With regard to job creation to secure livelihoods, the government facilitated the placement of 1,350 job seekers in different sectors under the Namibia Integrated Employment Information System.
The green hydrogen and oil and gas sub-sectors will lead to increased economic activities and exports via Walvis Bay and Luderitz. This in turn will require Namport to increase the handling capacity of its ports.
The government has availed N$2.5 billion in the 2024/25 Financial Year towards railway infrastructure. This is for the Kranzberg-Otjiwarongo railway section and the rehabilitation of the Sandverhaar-Buchholzbrunn railway section in the south.
These sectors are said to create job opportunities for the high rate of unemployment in the country and to address budget constraints on the safety net budget.
Moreover, the fish sector contributed 12 percent to the Gross Domestic Product of the country last year, according to the Namibia Revenue Agency Tax Contribution data with mining the highest at an estimated 30 percent.
Last year during the industry stakeholder’s engagement in Walvis Bay, Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Derek Klazen, said a study will be conducted to review fishing rights criteria during the 2024/25 financial year.
This exercise he said, will ensure compliance, fairness and equity of fishing rights holders regarding the duration of their fishing rights.
Klazen explained that the review will position the ministry to assess fishing right holders if they adhere to the criteria as outlined and steps to be taken in terminating such fishing right holders.
In recognition of the important role that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play in creating employment and spreading economic benefits widely, the government has continued investing in the SME financing strategy, which received N$40 million at the end of October 2023, through the First National Bank and Standard Bank, under the credit guarantee scheme.
Additionally, the Ministry of Finance transferred N$8.5 million to the Development Bank of Namibia to roll out the Mentorship and Coaching Programme.
