New factory adds value to Namibian fish

THE Spanish fishing company, Pereira Fishing, in which Namibians also hold shares, inaugurated its new multi-million-dollar cold storage and processing facility in Walvis Bay on Friday.

The facility will not only enhance the quality and value of fish exported to European markets, but will also provide more work and wealth for Namibians. The facility consists of huge freezer rooms – with a capacity of 1 500 tonnes of fish – storage and loading space, as well as an automated processing line.According to Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Abraham Iyambo, the facility comes at a time when the local fishing industry is facing tough economic challenges in the form of fluctuating exchange rates and global fish prices, and also rocketing fuel prices.He said Pereira’s confidence in the local industry was proven in the investment and construction of the facility.Iyambo said with facilities like this, as well as the completion of the new Walvis Bay Airport – expected to be by the end of the year -more valuable Namibian fish could be exported quicker, hence increasing foreign trade.He reiterated the importance of value addition, saying that it makes the fishing industry more stable, efficient and profitable in the long run.Pereira Fishing’s President, Jose Pereira, said the facility would enable fish exports to attain better market prices.He said his company was working on several other projects to improve the local processing, market diversity and quality of its products.The facility consists of huge freezer rooms – with a capacity of 1 500 tonnes of fish – storage and loading space, as well as an automated processing line.According to Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Abraham Iyambo, the facility comes at a time when the local fishing industry is facing tough economic challenges in the form of fluctuating exchange rates and global fish prices, and also rocketing fuel prices.He said Pereira’s confidence in the local industry was proven in the investment and construction of the facility.Iyambo said with facilities like this, as well as the completion of the new Walvis Bay Airport – expected to be by the end of the year -more valuable Namibian fish could be exported quicker, hence increasing foreign trade.He reiterated the importance of value addition, saying that it makes the fishing industry more stable, efficient and profitable in the long run.Pereira Fishing’s President, Jose Pereira, said the facility would enable fish exports to attain better market prices.He said his company was working on several other projects to improve the local processing, market diversity and quality of its products.