New NCCI leadership aims at skills shortage

THE newly-elected National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) president Inge Zaamwani held a press conference to announce resolutions passed at the organisation’s 2004 Annual General Meeting held in Windhoek on June 19.

The AGM saw a leadership transition within the chamber and passed various resolutions aimed at strengthening the chamber movement and providing further direction for the future. Resolutions were passed on the following issues: – skills development, work permits, strengthening of the advocacy role of NCCI, the Government tender process, annual consultations with the Government and the election of office bearers.”The NCCI leadership is very satisfied with the proceedings of this year’s AGM and we are indeed happy with its outcomes… we believe that this meeting provided an opportunity to representatives of our branches, national corporate members and other members of the Namibian private sector to evaluate the work done by NCCI thus far and define the chamber’s future role in the Namibian society,” said Zaamwani.She revealed that the AGM had expressed concern over the continuing lack of skills in the economy.This shortage has proven to be one of the most serious challenges facing our country today.It was recognised that the private sector has an important duty towards the development of skills in the country.The meeting resolved that an audit be made within the NCCI membership to determine levels of contributions towards skills development and devise strategies on how the private sector could take an active and a bigger role in developing skills in the country.The AGM resolved that the incoming leadership should every effort to mobilise the Namibian private sector’s participation in skills development.The meeting was, however, satisfied with the initiative by the outgoing leadership to push for the establishment of a University of Technology, which is proposed to be based in Tsumeb.The AGM also recognised the need to import skills on a temporary basis in order to close the skills gap in the economy but noted with concern the slow pace at which the Immigration Board issued work permits to import such skills.It was resolved that the NCCI leadership explores and presses for the co-option of private sector representatives on the Immigration Board.It was felt that the lack of such a representation could result in lack of understanding regarding the need to import skills.The AGM discussed the need for an increased advocacy role for the chamber in so far as engaging stakeholders in both Government and labour was concerned and to advocate the interests of the private sector and influence decisions and policies made by the stakeholders concerned.Resolutions were passed on the following issues: – skills development, work permits, strengthening of the advocacy role of NCCI, the Government tender process, annual consultations with the Government and the election of office bearers.”The NCCI leadership is very satisfied with the proceedings of this year’s AGM and we are indeed happy with its outcomes… we believe that this meeting provided an opportunity to representatives of our branches, national corporate members and other members of the Namibian private sector to evaluate the work done by NCCI thus far and define the chamber’s future role in the Namibian society,” said Zaamwani.She revealed that the AGM had expressed concern over the continuing lack of skills in the economy.This shortage has proven to be one of the most serious challenges facing our country today.It was recognised that the private sector has an important duty towards the development of skills in the country.The meeting resolved that an audit be made within the NCCI membership to determine levels of contributions towards skills development and devise strategies on how the private sector could take an active and a bigger role in developing skills in the country.The AGM resolved that the incoming leadership should every effort to mobilise the Namibian private sector’s participation in skills development.The meeting was, however, satisfied with the initiative by the outgoing leadership to push for the establishment of a University of Technology, which is proposed to be based in Tsumeb.The AGM also recognised the need to import skills on a temporary basis in order to close the skills gap in the economy but noted with concern the slow pace at which the Immigration Board issued work permits to import such skills.It was resolved that the NCCI leadership explores and presses for the co-option of private sector representatives on the Immigration Board.It was felt that the lack of such a representation could result in lack of understanding regarding the need to import skills.The AGM discussed the need for an increased advocacy role for the chamber in so far as engaging stakeholders in both Government and labour was concerned and to advocate the interests of the private sector and influence decisions and policies made by the stakeholders concerned.