Transportation, Logistics Essential for Socio-economic Development

• LOGAN FRANSMANTHE logistics sector is essential for trade, industrialisation, socio-economic development and regional integration, and is a critical developmental priority in Namibia and the region.

It is such an integral part of Namibia’s growth that The Namibian devotes an entire supplement to the transport and logistics industry every year.

The sector has been fortunate in the sense that the government is acutely aware of how critical it is, and has invested over the past 20 years in transport infrastructure development (roads, rail, maritime ports, and aviation). These investments have enabled Namibia to position itself as a logistics hub within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

These investments are also one of the reasons why the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), together with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) established the Namibia German Centre for Logistics (NGCL) as a centre of expertise and excellence in the field of logistics.

With investments, increased expertise and professionalisation of the logistics and transportation sector, our country can improve its competitiveness even further. It is easier said than done, as the industry covers the low-hanging fruit and quick wins. We are now looking at a much more holistic and integrated approach to transport planning, as well as the handling of goods, transporting of people and providing services.

The logistics sector now needs to look at the whole chain of transportation in SADC countries. It is no good having good airports, modern ports, and then be let down because of the quality of the logistics chain further inland or at borders, as the ‘hinterland’ also needs world-class logistics.

That is why this year’s NGCL workshop theme will be: “Advancing African trade through hinterland connectivity.”

Together with some of the biggest players in the logistics and transport sector, like the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Air Namibia, TransNamib, the Roads Authority and many others, we will discuss and develop plans during the workshops how we as a nation and as a sector can achieve this through partnerships and investments.

Through world-class ‘hinterland connectivity’, we will be able to improve targets in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, fisheries, rural and urban development and tourism. We, therefore, need to work together to create a sustainable transport system supporting a world-class logistics hub connecting SADC to international markets by 2022.

To build such a system means tackling some fundamental issues, which require a great deal of focus and attention, as well as substantial continued investment; something which will be a real challenge in Namibia’s present economic climate.

Access to financial resources for our sector, as is the case with every industry in Namibia, remains a problem. Limited resources cause delays and inadequate funding for the development of transport infrastructure, inadequate skills and an imbalance between the development and preservation of infrastructure.

Knowledge transfer and the development of technical skills such as at NGCL and NUST need to be complemented by private and public enterprises opening their doors to allow new transport and logistics graduates to learn and flourish within this exciting and growing sector.

Without these opportunities, the growth, development and ultimately the sustainability of the industry will suffer. With it, we can indeed become a global player, and continue to help drive the economy through logistics.

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