NamPort pays N$2,2 million dividends to Govt

THE Namibia Ports Authority, NamPort, on Tuesday handed over dividends valued at N$2,2 million to the Ministry of Finance.

NamPort, a commercialised entity, is a key player in the Walvis Bay Corridor, facilitating economic growth in Namibia by promoting foreign trade and making the ports of Walvis Bay and Luderitz preferred links for sea borne trade with the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Works, Transport and Communication Minister Moses Amweelo, who received the cheque on behalf of the Government, applauded NamPort for another excellent year of performance in running a strategic asset on behalf of all Namibians.”We believe as Government leaders that with the current developments in the global world, NamPort with its partners in the Walvis Bay Corridor Group can be one of the prime companies in Namibia to make a success of establishing business across the borders of Namibia,” said Amweelo.The Minister said the coming years will present its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, adding that he was confident that the authority was able to meet the challenges and serve as another milestone in the history of economic prosperity in the country.The total turnover of the company was N$166 million for the financial year ended August 31 2002, an increase of 24 per cent over N$134 million for the previous financial year.Speaking at the event, NamPort Managing Director Sebby Kankondi said despite the achievements, the major threat his company was facing was the fight against the HIV-AIDS scourge, which was undermining skill and the company’s efforts to train and develop its employees.Kankondi said HIV-AIDS was affecting the experienced and skilled labour force, hence the weakening of the company’s efficiency and productivity.It is against this background that the company launched the “NamPort Cares” action programme to address stigma and discrimination and also to generate hope.”With this programme we look beyond the workplace and reach out to our employees and their immediate family members with care and anti-retroviral treatment,” he said.Kankondi also said expansion and hefty investments in port infrastructure would keep haunting NamPort, if the company was to survive and cope with the explosion of containerisation in the market place.By July, the port is expected to be in line with the international shipping and port security requirements.Kankondi reiterated that NamPort remains committed to the implementation of development projects to achieve its master plan, and the introduction of value-added services based on customer needs.”We will encourage, now and in the future, representation of previously disadvantaged Namibian people at all levels of our hierarchy and the promotion of black empowerment concept in purchasing and delivering of goods and services.”Regionally and internationally, NamPort is continually looking at ways of initiating partnerships so as to turn Namibia into a regional transportation hub and to reduce the cost of transport in southern Africa.Kankondi indicated that NamPort invested more than N$30 million in deepening the ports, acquiring state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure, extension of quays and embracing of the information technology.He noted that staff at the port had grown from 300 to more than 500 and providing indirect job to more than 5 000 people across the country.Works, Transport and Communication Minister Moses Amweelo, who received the cheque on behalf of the Government, applauded NamPort for another excellent year of performance in running a strategic asset on behalf of all Namibians.”We believe as Government leaders that with the current developments in the global world, NamPort with its partners in the Walvis Bay Corridor Group can be one of the prime companies in Namibia to make a success of establishing business across the borders of Namibia,” said Amweelo.The Minister said the coming years will present its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, adding that he was confident that the authority was able to meet the challenges and serve as another milestone in the history of economic prosperity in the country.The total turnover of the company was N$166 million for the financial year ended August 31 2002, an increase of 24 per cent over N$134 million for the previous financial year.Speaking at the event, NamPort Managing Director Sebby Kankondi said despite the achievements, the major threat his company was facing was the fight against the HIV-AIDS scourge, which was undermining skill and the company’s efforts to train and develop its employees.Kankondi said HIV-AIDS was affecting the experienced and skilled labour force, hence the weakening of the company’s efficiency and productivity.It is against this background that the company launched the “NamPort Cares” action programme to address stigma and discrimination and also to generate hope.”With this programme we look beyond the workplace and reach out to our employees and their immediate family members with care and anti-retroviral treatment,” he said.Kankondi also said expansion and hefty investments in port infrastructure would keep haunting NamPort, if the company was to survive and cope with the explosion of containerisation in the market place.By July, the port is expected to be in line with the international shipping and port security requirements.Kankondi reiterated that NamPort remains committed to the implementation of development projects to achieve its master plan, and the introduction of value-added services based on customer needs.”We will encourage, now and in the future, representation of previously disadvantaged Namibian people at all levels of our hierarchy and the promotion of black empowerment concept in purchasing and delivering of goods and services.”Regionally and internationally, NamPort is continually looking at ways of initiating partnerships so as to turn Namibia into a regional transportation hub and to reduce the cost of transport in southern Africa.Kankondi indicated that NamPort invested more than N$30 million in deepening the ports, acquiring state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure, extension of quays and embracing of the information technology.He noted that staff at the port had grown from 300 to more than 500 and providing indirect job to more than 5 000 people across the country.