An ad hoc Committee consisting of the Director General of the National Planning Commission, the Ministers of Finance and Presidential Affairs will prioritise identified projects and ensure the completion of the outstanding activities, Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said yesterday.

"The identified projects include three projects from the Ministry of Agriculture, eight road and bridge rehabilitation or gravelling projects under the auspices of the Ministry of Works, three aquaculture projects, a feasibility study on small-scale mining, seven projects of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and eight projects of the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture," the Minister said.

"Another priority project will be the phasing out of the bucket toilet system at four towns."

The relevant Ministries must conduct feasibility studies of the proposed projects and where these do not exist, indicate their estimated cost," Nandi-Ndaitwah added.

Following a Cabinet review in November, it was agreed that new development projects that would contribute to economic growth, poverty reduction, rural development and employment creation should be considered for funding.

Another major expenditure that was endorsed is N$224,4 million for a radar air-traffic surveillance system to cover Namibian airspace.

Namibia is a contracting state to the International Civil Aviation Organisation and is obliged to maintain a safe and efficient air-traffic control system.

"The implications of the non-availability of radar means that aviation safety will be compromised and airlines will fear the unacceptable risk of mid-air collisions over, into and out of Namibia's airspace," the Minister said.

"This would result in a loss of revenue for our country generated by over-flight fees, while it would also impact on tourism, trade and investment and thus the country's overall economic growth."

The radar system should be in place before 2010, when the soccer World Cup will be held in South Africa and the African Nations Cup in Angola.

"These two events will stimulate our tourism sector and we might even receive some soccer teams to do their training here and our airspace needs to be safe by then," she added.

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