A Windhoek manufacturer is calling on the government to implement urgent industrial policy reforms to address restrictive regulations and boost the competitiveness of Namibia’s manufacturing sector.
Dinapama Manufacturing and Supplies managing director David Namalenga, during president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s courtesy visit to the company on Tuesday, said he wishes to see small and medium enterprises (SMEs) thrive.
The company, which was established in 2009, specialises in custom clothing, bags, and branding services.
“A lot is going out of the country, and when you ask mining companies to come on board they often say they have spent a lot in Namibia. But they spend it mostly on local suppliers and not local manufacturers. This is why we need policy reform for the industry,” Namalenga said.
He said Dinapama was deliberately established to support the people of an industry which has been neglected for far too long.
He said he is pushing for policy reforms that speak to accountability, local procurement and policies to help the industry run smoothly.
Namalenga said the company has about 500 employees and is currently producing 17 000 pieces a month, with plans to increase this to 36 000.
The company annually produces about 900 000 orders, he said.
Some of the challenges it is faced with include clients who approach the company at short notice, and some requiring big orders to be completed in a short period of time.
The company is currently drafting a model to ensure it capacitates its operations while also engaging clients to address short notice periods.
Namalenga said the company would never turn away clients despite this, adding it strives to be a trusted brand.
Meanwhile, the president advised that Dinapama provides a clear operation schedule.
If an order of materials takes five months before it reaches the factory, for example, such information must be communicated in time, she said.
The president said policy reform is part of her administration agenda, with some work already underway, but she acknowledged that Namibia is over-regulated.
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