The Start-Up Namibia-German joint project has come to an end, leaving the trade ministry to spearhead it.
This was announced during an equipment handover ceremony held in Windhoek on Thursday.
Trade minister Lucia Iipumbu said the project aimed to create new opportunities for jobs in the start-up sector and build a vibrant ecosystem across the country enabling new ventures to grow and flourish.
“During Covid-19, StartUp Namibia supported 600 micro, small and medium enterprises, especially in the informal sector through grant funding which has kept many businesses alive. This equipment also comes as the ministry unveiled the draft National Informal Economy, StartUps and Entrepreneurship Development Policy for stakeholders’ comments,” said Iipumbu.
The total value of the equipment is N$9 million.
The StartUp Namibia project was a a joint Namibian-German technical cooperation project for sustainable economic development by the German government and implemented by GIZ with the Namibian Ministry of Trade and Industrialisation, Ministry of Higher Education, Technology Innovation, and the City of Windhoek.
The initial project had a lifespan of three years, starting in 2020 and officially closed its doors at the end of 2022 Ministry spokesperson Elijah Mukombonda said the donated equipment will continue to assist and support start-up related activities of the ministry.
“GIZ is and has been a strategic partner to the ministry and relevant stakeholder in carrying out some of the major projects of the ministry, such as Sustainable Development Goals impact facility (SDG), Industrial Upgrading Modernisation Programme and Equipment Aid Scheme,” he said.
