Martin Endjala
Regional economic units have a duty to stimulate business activities in their regions, in order to increase growth per capital income and employment opportunities and thus, ensure poverty reduction.
This was said by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Peya Mushelenga during the official launch of the Oshana region Investors Conference, launched yesterday in the Oshana region, scheduled to take place from 23 to 24 August 2023.
The Minister underscored that it is a reality that regional economic planners and players have a significant role in national economies, particularly in the globalized economy.
He added that in many countries, regional and local governments have economic development units that carry out the functions of attracting investors to their localities.
“Oshana region is an ideal centre for trade and investments given the facilities and infrastructure that it offers to businesses. The region boasts good road infrastructure, an airport with daily flights during the working days and a railway station, “said the Minister.
This makes it a gateway for trade between Namibia and Angola, which is within less than 100 km of reach.
There is however reduced transport cost and time efficiency in the course of doing business in the Oshana region.
Oshana region further provides a conducive environment for investors in a broader scope.
With a public referral hospital and two private hospitals, the region is attractive to investors, who are generally concerned about health care services.
In addition, three campuses for the University of Namibia and the International University of Management campus will facilitate research on markets in business, manufacturing and industrial sectors.
“It is, therefore, my call to both local, national and international investors to come and attend the Oshana Region Investors Conference, to showcase their products and services, “said Mushelenga.
Meanwhile, with the initiative of the Oshana Region Investors Conference, investors will focus on capital cities and commercial cities, leaving countries with the spatial distribution of economic activities.
Scholars of regional developments and local economic developments have maintained that there are negative effects resulting from concentrating economic activities on selected geographic locations.
These effects necessitate that regional leaders should come up with strategies to bring economic activities to regions.
Mushelenga reiterated that the success of investors’ conferences depends on their publicising.
Investors conferences avail governments, whether central, regional or local, and investors opportunities to interact and share information on existing and potential business opportunities, the Minister said.
