Govt to encourage value addition to fish

By: BRIGITTE WEIDLICH

NAMIBIA'S fishing industry will receive more support from Government to increase local value addition to fish catches, which will earn Namibia more foreign-exchange earnings than raw fish exports.

Cabinet has approved several measures to this effect, including the

setting up of a Namibian Export Promotion Agency and the review of

quota levies to encourage local value addition.

The Cabinet Committee on Trade and Economic Development also

made input in a study commissioned by the Ministry of Fisheries and

Marine Resources.

 

It was done between November 2006 and January 2007 and is

entitled 'Assessment of Opportunities for Increased Value Addition

and Improved Marketing of Namibian Marine Fish Products'.

 

The main findings were that Namibia mainly exports raw fish, but

that the country is beginning to see more value addition done by a

number of Namibian processing companies.

 

It also suggested that more local value addition could be

achieved to ensure job creation and foreign-exchange earnings if

the seafood industry was accorded Export Processing Zone (EPZ)

status and if an export-promoting agency was established.

 

The study also found that increased Government support could be

made available for export promotion.

 

The State should encourage fishing companies to add value

locally by reducing quota levies proportional to value-added

production and by rewarding performance with additional quotas, it

recommended.

 

"Although there is a downward trend in jobs in the fishing

industry, it is estimated that between 3 000 and 7 000 jobs could

be created through value addition in the Namibian fisheries

sector," the study was quoted in the Cabinet briefing paper.

 

Cabinet directed the Ministries of Finance, Trade and Industry

and Fisheries and Marine Resources to work out incentives to

encourage value addition.

 

Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to

expedite the establishment of the Namibia Export Promotion

Agency.

 

Funds will be made available to the Ministry of Fisheries to

support market research into producing local value-added products,

particularly where economic benefits and job creation are

significant.

 

Cabinet also mandated the Ministry to develop a Web site to

promote Namibian fish in the international market.

 

Cabinet further directed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to

work with the Namibian seafood industry to ensure that value-added

products are included during negotiations with the European Union

on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) - to be signed by

December 31.

 

Cabinet decided that training to promote value addition and

marketing in the seafood sector should be prioritised by

Government, the fishing and aquaculture industries.

 

It recommended an investigation to work out regulations that a

portion of annual fish landings should be supplied to the local

market.

 

Cabinet has appointed a Technical Committee comprising of the

Ministries of Fisheries, Trade and Industry, Finance and the

National Planning Commission to investigate its recommendations and

to report its findings to the Cabinet Committee on Trade and

Economic Development.

 

The Cabinet Committee on Trade and Economic Development also made

input in a study commissioned by the Ministry of Fisheries and

Marine Resources.It was done between November 2006 and January 2007

and is entitled 'Assessment of Opportunities for Increased Value

Addition and Improved Marketing of Namibian Marine Fish

Products'.The main findings were that Namibia mainly exports raw

fish, but that the country is beginning to see more value addition

done by a number of Namibian processing companies.It also suggested

that more local value addition could be achieved to ensure job

creation and foreign-exchange earnings if the seafood industry was

accorded Export Processing Zone (EPZ) status and if an

export-promoting agency was established.The study also found that

increased Government support could be made available for export

promotion.The State should encourage fishing companies to add value

locally by reducing quota levies proportional to value-added

production and by rewarding performance with additional quotas, it

recommended."Although there is a downward trend in jobs in the

fishing industry, it is estimated that between 3 000 and 7 000 jobs

could be created through value addition in the Namibian fisheries

sector," the study was quoted in the Cabinet briefing paper.Cabinet

directed the Ministries of Finance, Trade and Industry and

Fisheries and Marine Resources to work out incentives to encourage

value addition.Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Trade and

Industry to expedite the establishment of the Namibia Export

Promotion Agency.Funds will be made available to the Ministry of

Fisheries to support market research into producing local

value-added products, particularly where economic benefits and job

creation are significant.Cabinet also mandated the Ministry to

develop a Web site to promote Namibian fish in the international

market.Cabinet further directed the Ministry of Trade and Industry

to work with the Namibian seafood industry to ensure that

value-added products are included during negotiations with the

European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) - to be

signed by December 31.Cabinet decided that training to promote

value addition and marketing in the seafood sector should be

prioritised by Government, the fishing and aquaculture

industries.It recommended an investigation to work out regulations

that a portion of annual fish landings should be supplied to the

local market.Cabinet has appointed a Technical Committee comprising

of the Ministries of Fisheries, Trade and Industry, Finance and the

National Planning Commission to investigate its recommendations and

to report its findings to the Cabinet Committee on Trade and

Economic Development.

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