Deputy Trade Minister urges local firms to forge international links

AN advertising company, Virtual Marketing, said to be the first to offer clients in Namibia an integrated package, was launched at a breakfast meeting in Windhoek yesterday.

According to management of Virtual Marketing, the newly-established company was designed to offer marketers and advertisers “a truly-integrated, cost effective package”. Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Bernardt Esau welcomed the launching of the new company to the Namibian market.”The concept behind launching of Virtual Marketing is quite revolutionary in the sense that for the first time in Namibian history, local businesses will have access to a complete one-stop service, from the research level up to the point of advertising and marketing, event management, branding and corporate identity development in one seamless action,” he said.Commenting on the trend of strategic alliances and of local businesses forging links with international partners, Deputy Minister Esau said no company could to ignore the existence of the global economy and its components of inter-dependency.He said, “In this regard, the Sacu-USA free trade area will be upon us very soon, as well as the economic partnership agreement with the European Union.”Therefore, I will strongly advise and encourage Namibian companies to take a leaf from what Virtual Marketing has done in this context, in order to better position and prepare themselves against global competition, while there is still time.”Virtual Marketing managing director, Thea Visser explained that her company, which constantly works with its partners around the world, “does things quite differently… and is uniquely positioned to offer clients both results-effective and cost-effective solutions”.Visser also said the new concept of “virtual marketing” and how it could benefit clients’ marketing activities.Virtual Marketing has alliances with 80 creative teams and individuals world-wide including Kenya, Zimbabwe, USA, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Turkey, Poland and Portugal.The company is also the Namibian representative of the Cannes Lions Awards – the highly acclaimed international advertising competition.Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Bernardt Esau welcomed the launching of the new company to the Namibian market.”The concept behind launching of Virtual Marketing is quite revolutionary in the sense that for the first time in Namibian history, local businesses will have access to a complete one-stop service, from the research level up to the point of advertising and marketing, event management, branding and corporate identity development in one seamless action,” he said.Commenting on the trend of strategic alliances and of local businesses forging links with international partners, Deputy Minister Esau said no company could to ignore the existence of the global economy and its components of inter-dependency.He said, “In this regard, the Sacu-USA free trade area will be upon us very soon, as well as the economic partnership agreement with the European Union.”Therefore, I will strongly advise and encourage Namibian companies to take a leaf from what Virtual Marketing has done in this context, in order to better position and prepare themselves against global competition, while there is still time.”Virtual Marketing managing director, Thea Visser explained that her company, which constantly works with its partners around the world, “does things quite differently… and is uniquely positioned to offer clients both results-effective and cost-effective solutions”.Visser also said the new concept of “virtual marketing” and how it could benefit clients’ marketing activities.Virtual Marketing has alliances with 80 creative teams and individuals world-wide including Kenya, Zimbabwe, USA, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Turkey, Poland and Portugal.The company is also the Namibian representative of the Cannes Lions Awards – the highly acclaimed international advertising competition.