Namibia attaining its goals

WINDHOEK – The Namibian government continues to strive for the attainment of its development goals to reduce poverty, creating jobs, economic growth, land reform and reducing regional imbalances.

The Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Helmut Angula, made these remarks when he opened the Namibia-Sweden Working Group Meeting in the capital last week. Angula said significant progress had been made in the last 15 years, particularly in education, health, access to portable water, electricity and many other essential social services.However, serious challenges still continue to face the country, such as HIV-AIDS, malaria, TB and poverty.”In the future, we will continue to devote more resources to combat HIV-AIDS and other diseases, and reduce poverty and regional imbalances,” Angula said.However, this objective will only be achieved through prudent use and management of public resources, decisive prevention of corrupt practices, and implementing programmes that stimulate job creation and economic growth, performance and efficiency, as President Hifikepunye Pohamba had repeatedly emphasised, said Angula.”During the Millennium Summit, it was agreed that all developed countries would avail 0,7 per cent of the GDP to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in support of developing countries.We note with appreciation that the Swedish Parliament made the decision to commit one per cent of its GDP and that Sweden has met this target and would surpass it by 2006,” he said.Angula said Namibia would report on the progress made towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals at the follow-up Millennium Summit that would be held in September this year.-NampaAngula said significant progress had been made in the last 15 years, particularly in education, health, access to portable water, electricity and many other essential social services.However, serious challenges still continue to face the country, such as HIV-AIDS, malaria, TB and poverty.”In the future, we will continue to devote more resources to combat HIV-AIDS and other diseases, and reduce poverty and regional imbalances,” Angula said.However, this objective will only be achieved through prudent use and management of public resources, decisive prevention of corrupt practices, and implementing programmes that stimulate job creation and economic growth, performance and efficiency, as President Hifikepunye Pohamba had repeatedly emphasised, said Angula.”During the Millennium Summit, it was agreed that all developed countries would avail 0,7 per cent of the GDP to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in support of developing countries.We note with appreciation that the Swedish Parliament made the decision to commit one per cent of its GDP and that Sweden has met this target and would surpass it by 2006,” he said.Angula said Namibia would report on the progress made towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals at the follow-up Millennium Summit that would be held in September this year.-Nampa