Rosh Pinah’s first expo a success

SKORPION ZINC Mine, in collaboration with SMEs Compete, last weekend held its first ever expo, aimed at boosting the development of small and medium enterprises, at the fast-growing southern mining town of Rosh Pinah.

SME’s Compete Director Danny Meyer on Tuesday told The Namibian that a survey done after the expo showed the exhibitors reported good sales. He said initially the expo had been planned for 20 exhibitors, but in the end had 45 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of wares.”The expo, the first kind of its nature at the town, was a huge success and expo goers were satisfied with the blend displayed at the expo,” he said.The 45 exhibitors included entrepreneurs from Arandis, Swakopmund, Rehoboth, Oranjemund and local entrepreneurs.The German Development Service funded N$10 150 for the exhibitors’ accommodation and transport.According to Meyer, Rosh Pinah benefited economically during the two-day expo.He said a survey showed that a lot had been injected into the town’s economy.Meyer felt the expo warranted a follow-up, and advised the Skorpion Zinc Mine management to step up the entertainment at the follow-up expo.He said the concept of SME expo is worth pursuing and should not be seen as a competition for big trade fairs such as the Windhoek Show, but rather as a move promoting SMEs.Meyer noted that similar expos were scheduled at Walvis Bay and Oshakati in the next two months.Speaking at the official opening of the expo, Skorpion Zinc Mine General Manager Gerald Boting said the importance of SMEs could not be underestimated, since the sector was the backbone of any flourishing economy.”This sector makes an important contribution to overall employment, accounting for 60 to 70 per cent of the manufacturing total in most developed and fast developing economies.This is primarily because the expansion of SMEs can boost employment more effectively than large firms because they are more labour intensive,” he said.Skorpion Zinc, a subsidiary of Anglo American, has invested N$200 000 in the economic development of SMEs based at Rosh Pinah.He said initially the expo had been planned for 20 exhibitors, but in the end had 45 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of wares.”The expo, the first kind of its nature at the town, was a huge success and expo goers were satisfied with the blend displayed at the expo,” he said.The 45 exhibitors included entrepreneurs from Arandis, Swakopmund, Rehoboth, Oranjemund and local entrepreneurs.The German Development Service funded N$10 150 for the exhibitors’ accommodation and transport.According to Meyer, Rosh Pinah benefited economically during the two-day expo.He said a survey showed that a lot had been injected into the town’s economy.Meyer felt the expo warranted a follow-up, and advised the Skorpion Zinc Mine management to step up the entertainment at the follow-up expo.He said the concept of SME expo is worth pursuing and should not be seen as a competition for big trade fairs such as the Windhoek Show, but rather as a move promoting SMEs.Meyer noted that similar expos were scheduled at Walvis Bay and Oshakati in the next two months.Speaking at the official opening of the expo, Skorpion Zinc Mine General Manager Gerald Boting said the importance of SMEs could not be underestimated, since the sector was the backbone of any flourishing economy.”This sector makes an important contribution to overall employment, accounting for 60 to 70 per cent of the manufacturing total in most developed and fast developing economies.This is primarily because the expansion of SMEs can boost employment more effectively than large firms because they are more labour intensive,” he said.Skorpion Zinc, a subsidiary of Anglo American, has invested N$200 000 in the economic development of SMEs based at Rosh Pinah.