President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says of the 500 000 jobs promised by the eighth administration, 18 000 jobs are expected to come from the mining sector.
Speaking at the official opening of the Chamber of Mines Mining Expo in Windhoek yesterday, she said the country is rich in natural resources and should act accordingly.
She said this includes facilitating an estimated US$2.86 billion (about N$48.05 billion) in new investment through the various mining and exploration projects, adding that more can still be done.”
“Others come in with money, but we are strong because we have the resources. We should not just fill our minds with money. We must not negotiate with a poverty mindset,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
“The mining sector has always been important to Namibia.” When serving as minister of international relations, Nandi-Ndaitwah would often be asked by foreign investors about the country’s mines, especially diamonds, she said.
Now, there is a mineral rush in Namibia, showing that the country has negotiating power because of its natural resources, she said.
During her engagements with foreign investors, the president said, she has been pushing for development in the mining sector that benefits Namibians.
“During those visits [to Tanzania and China], we advocated for partnerships to strengthen value-addition to our natural resources for the benefit of our people,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
PROMISES TO INVESTORS
The president said that she is open to suggestions for improving the mining sector.
“Be assured that our government is committed to creating a positive investment environment.”
In December, the president commissioned three task forces ranging from economic recovery, health and housing and land. They are due to submit their recommendations to the government by the end of this month. The president said she has directed the ministries to implement the recommendations from the task forces.
“But the most effective reports should come from the industry. You must tell me if things are working [or not],” she said.
Chamber of Mines president George Botshiwe said at the expo’s official opening that the sector should use the conference to honestly consider the challenges that it faces.
“The conference provides the opportunity to honestly assess where progress has been made and where challenges remain,” Botshiwe said yesterday.
The mining expo is in its 13th edition this year, with over 200 exhibitors, including 24 international companies.
The theme of the expo is ‘From Dialogue to Delivery: Assessing Progress in Creating Mining-led Economic Growth and Employment since Namibia’s Public-Private Forum (NamPPF)’.
NamPPF was launched by the Cabinet in October last year, and Botshiwe asked attendees to approach the theme with a “spirit of partnership and accountability”.
Minister of industries, mines and energy Modestus Amutse says he hopes the conference focuses on domestic value addition.
“I remain confident that this industry is capable of delivering even greater benefits for our people and our economy. To unlock the full potential of our mineral resources, we must move beyond the mere extraction of raw materials,” Amutse says.
He says his office is working on a mineral beneficiation policy, which will be completed and presented to the president by the end of this month.
