Govt gives green light on Meatco restructuring study

CABINET has approved the terms of reference for a study on the Meat Corporation’s (Meatco) ownership structure and the appointment of a consultant to carry out the study within the next three to four months.

Government decided about a year ago that Meatco should be structured along the principles of a co-operative to broaden participation in and membership of the company. “The new structure of Meatco must ensure that the corporation, as an important player in the meat industry and the country’s economy, is managed on sound business principles to ensure that Namibia continues to market meat and meat products in domestic and external markets competitively,” the latest Cabinet briefing paper stated.”Meatco’s new business format must ensure that Meatco empowers emerging and communal farmers through the establishment of auction pens and marketing infrastructure in these areas.”The objective is to ensure that communal farmers too accrue maximum benefits from selling their animals to Meatco and not only the middlemen who are between Meatco and communal farmers.”Ultimately, Government expects that the new ownership structure of Meatco will provide for a sound business entity that operates in the national interest, contributes to the national objectives, and provides for equal opportunities for all meat producers of the country in terms of profit sharing and shareholding in the business.”The new structure of Meatco must ensure that the corporation, as an important player in the meat industry and the country’s economy, is managed on sound business principles to ensure that Namibia continues to market meat and meat products in domestic and external markets competitively,” the latest Cabinet briefing paper stated.”Meatco’s new business format must ensure that Meatco empowers emerging and communal farmers through the establishment of auction pens and marketing infrastructure in these areas.”The objective is to ensure that communal farmers too accrue maximum benefits from selling their animals to Meatco and not only the middlemen who are between Meatco and communal farmers.”Ultimately, Government expects that the new ownership structure of Meatco will provide for a sound business entity that operates in the national interest, contributes to the national objectives, and provides for equal opportunities for all meat producers of the country in terms of profit sharing and shareholding in the business.