Martin Endjala
Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says that the creative industry has the potential to be an economic driver for Namibia and create jobs for young people.
She said the government is fully aware of the potential and importance of the culture and creative industries offered.
She said this on Wednesday at the start of the 2024 TechNovation Social held in Windhoek.
“I strongly believe that in addition to our main economic sectors, namely mining, fishing, tourism, and agriculture, we need to include sports and the creative industry. As an engine of economic growth and social development, the creative industry has the potential to create jobs, in particular for the youth,” she said.
The VP said that investing in these industries is not just about preserving the past but about building a brighter economic future for all Namibians.
She said that over the years, the government has taken steps to create an enabling environment for these industries to thrive.
She said going forward, interventions will be designed to support artists and creators, promote cultural exchange, and ensure that our rich heritage is celebrated and preserved for future generations.
The inaugural TechNovation Social event took place in November 2021, in collaboration with First National Bank (FNB).
TechNovation Social, according to her, set out to establish a culture-creative industry (CCI) networking platform that would unite creatives, customers, and policy influencers.
She said the overall aim was to identify and understand the CCI’s bottlenecks and opportunities.
She urged NIPDB, as per their mandate, to unlock opportunities and enable a better quality of life for all Namibians through appropriate investment in TechNovation Social.
“To ensure that the CCI entrepreneurs are capacitated with business agility, brand awareness, and export readiness in preparation for their participation in market access and export promotion platforms,” said the Nandi-Ndaitwah.
She stated that by empowering the CCI, Namibia will be able to showcase its brand globally through its timeless creations. She stated that the end goal for the Namibian CCI should be to increase its contribution to economic growth by stimulating adjacent sectors such as tourism and hospitality.
Nangula Uaandja, NIPDB CEO, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continue creating avenues for economic growth for the country, both nationally and internationally.
She said NIPDB will continue fostering partnerships with other stakeholders, such as FNB, to make the CCI an engine of economic growth, thereby transforming the talents of creative industries into tangible fruits.
“As NIPDB, we will ensure it finds stages both on the African continent and internationally so that Namibia’s CCI can showcase its unique talents,” she assured.
Joseph Uapingene, deputy mayor of the City of Windhoek, said that by supporting these sectors, they are not only enriching residents’ lives but also investing in the future of the city.
He believes a successful creative sector attracts tourism, fosters innovation, and creates jobs.
He said they recognise the shortcomings in terms of a lack of infrastructure or space to enable artists to flourish in their creative expression.
“Because the city has not yet clearly articulated a policy framework to regulate and enable a sustainable public art scene within the city environment,” he revealed.
He believes that by collaborating as stakeholders, they can construct a city that is not just financially successful but also lively, welcoming, and a source of motivation for future generations.
FNB transactional sales manager Otiniel Ndivayele said that as a commercial bank, they are ready to partner in initiatives such as TechNovation that accelerate and capacitate entrepreneurs.
He said FNB strives to create a globally competitive Namibia.
