Okakarara to establish fair

THE Okakarara Constituency Development Committee is planning to hold a trade fair at the town with the intention of uplifting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the town.

The Regional Councillor of the Okakarara Constituency, Vetaruhe Kandorozu, told Nampa on Monday that preparations are currently at an advanced stage and only the approval for registration is being awaited from the Ministry of Trade and Industry before the end of this month. The first Okakarara Trade Fair is planned for November 1 to 5 this year.Kandorozu, who is also member of the organising committee, is optimistic that the trade fair will serve as a platform for exchanging information and enhancing interaction among the upcoming entrepreneurs themselves, as well as with potential investors.”We have realised that we need to do more for our small businesses in our constituency, since they are very much behind.They have no access to business information on how to sell their products or apply for financial assistance at financial institutions.Some do not have any idea what strategies the Ministry of Trade has put in place to help them,” he said.Two committees have been formed to ensure that all intended plans materialise.The technical committee, which is responsible for raising funds for all trade fair-related activities, is made up of close to 30 high-ranking and influential personalities such as opposition Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) President Katuutire Kaura, Member of Parliament Asser Mbai, Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia Tjama Tjivikua and many others.The main committee is made up of several councillors, the business community and other local representatives.Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Namibia, Vekuii Rukoro, has been approached to serve as the patron of the Okakarara Trade Fair and his acceptance is still to be confirmed.A symposium is to be held in Windhoek next month, which will be attended by members of the two committees to exchange ideas on the way forward.According to Kandorozu, a logistic strategy will be drafted after the symposium, which will also determine the estimated cost and the way forward.Meanwhile, the main committee has already presented the proposal to the Okakarara Town Council.The committee has requested to use an old building at the town that belongs to the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC), which Kandorozu said has become a white elephant.Proper procedures will, however, have to be followed to get approval for the building to become the permanent place for the trade fair.Kandorozu said it was their dream to make this trade fair an annual event.- NampaThe first Okakarara Trade Fair is planned for November 1 to 5 this year.Kandorozu, who is also member of the organising committee, is optimistic that the trade fair will serve as a platform for exchanging information and enhancing interaction among the upcoming entrepreneurs themselves, as well as with potential investors.”We have realised that we need to do more for our small businesses in our constituency, since they are very much behind.They have no access to business information on how to sell their products or apply for financial assistance at financial institutions.Some do not have any idea what strategies the Ministry of Trade has put in place to help them,” he said.Two committees have been formed to ensure that all intended plans materialise.The technical committee, which is responsible for raising funds for all trade fair-related activities, is made up of close to 30 high-ranking and influential personalities such as opposition Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) President Katuutire Kaura, Member of Parliament Asser Mbai, Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia Tjama Tjivikua and many others.The main committee is made up of several councillors, the business community and other local representatives.Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Namibia, Vekuii Rukoro, has been approached to serve as the patron of the Okakarara Trade Fair and his acceptance is still to be confirmed.A symposium is to be held in Windhoek next month, which will be attended by members of the two committees to exchange ideas on the way forward.According to Kandorozu, a logistic strategy will be drafted after the symposium, which will also determine the estimated cost and the way forward.Meanwhile, the main committee has already presented the proposal to the Okakarara Town Council.The committee has requested to use an old building at the town that belongs to the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC), which Kandorozu said has become a white elephant.Proper procedures will, however, have to be followed to get approval for the building to become the permanent place for the trade fair.Kandorozu said it was their dream to make this trade fair an annual event.- Nampa