NMA attends conference in Gaborone

THE Namibian Manufacturers’ Association (NMA) last week attended a three-day Public-Private Policy Dialogue conference held in Gaborone, Botswana.

NMA Chief Executive Officer Hennie Fourie said the delegations discussed the strengths and weaknesses of public-private dialogue in Botswana, highlighting best practices as well as areas for improvement, how government and the private sector could work together effectively to strengthen economic growth and prosperity for all citizens and, plans by the public or private sector to establish effective dialogue. Namibia was represented by Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Inge Zaamwani, who is the President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NCCI CEO Tarah Shaanika and an official in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Petrina Nakale.Fourie said participants were particularly impressed with the High Level Consultative Council (HLCC) operating in Botswana.”This body is chaired by the President and meets twice a year.Cabinet Ministers, senior public sector officials as well as the organised private sector are represented on this council where issues concerning the development of the private sector and the country were discussed and followed up on a regular basis,” he said.Providing for an organisation such as the HLCC in Botswana was included in the strategy of most countries, said Fourie, and these strategies will have to be implemented by every country delegation and feedback provided to CIPE, who would be able to assist in that regard if required.The conference was also attended by representatives from Botswana, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania.The end of the conference saw a strategy developed by each country group to improve public-private dialogue.Namibia was represented by Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Inge Zaamwani, who is the President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NCCI CEO Tarah Shaanika and an official in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Petrina Nakale.Fourie said participants were particularly impressed with the High Level Consultative Council (HLCC) operating in Botswana.”This body is chaired by the President and meets twice a year.Cabinet Ministers, senior public sector officials as well as the organised private sector are represented on this council where issues concerning the development of the private sector and the country were discussed and followed up on a regular basis,” he said.Providing for an organisation such as the HLCC in Botswana was included in the strategy of most countries, said Fourie, and these strategies will have to be implemented by every country delegation and feedback provided to CIPE, who would be able to assist in that regard if required.The conference was also attended by representatives from Botswana, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania.The end of the conference saw a strategy developed by each country group to improve public-private dialogue.