USAID funded project ends its run

A programme set up to focus on building capacity for local small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the Namibia Regional Trade Programme, has come to an end and is being replaced by a new and similar project.

NRTP, a USAID funded programme has ended after its three-year run since its establishment in 2004. The programme was implemented by ECIAfrica Consulting and run in collaboration with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).Since its establishment, the just ended NRTP assisted 84 companies, enabling them to enhance their capacities and competitiveness on the global market, trained hundreds of aspiring and established businesspeople and created around 750 jobs.Around N$700 000 was doled out as grants and loans to SMEs from the programme during its operation.NRTP Programme Manager, Tulimeyo Kaapanda-Ausiku and Programme Associate, Lwaba Jario, have been tasked by ECIAfrica to run the South African International Business Linkage (SAIBL) project which will also be done in conjunction with the NCCI and whose major objective is to link Namibian businesses with South African firms.This was announced at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Windhoek yesterday.Kaapanda-Ausiku will be the SAIBL representative for Namibia, as Trade Development Specialist, which involves a variety of responsibilities, especially from the World Bank, although an official announcement to this effect is yet to be made.Mandisa Mashologu of ECIAfrica said, ” We are pleased to note that, even though the Namibia Joint Regional Trade Programme may be coming to an end, we as ECIAfrica are continuing our presence and role in Namibia through our South African International Business Linkages programme and NCCI.”The programme was implemented by ECIAfrica Consulting and run in collaboration with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).Since its establishment, the just ended NRTP assisted 84 companies, enabling them to enhance their capacities and competitiveness on the global market, trained hundreds of aspiring and established businesspeople and created around 750 jobs.Around N$700 000 was doled out as grants and loans to SMEs from the programme during its operation.NRTP Programme Manager, Tulimeyo Kaapanda-Ausiku and Programme Associate, Lwaba Jario, have been tasked by ECIAfrica to run the South African International Business Linkage (SAIBL) project which will also be done in conjunction with the NCCI and whose major objective is to link Namibian businesses with South African firms.This was announced at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Windhoek yesterday.Kaapanda-Ausiku will be the SAIBL representative for Namibia, as Trade Development Specialist, which involves a variety of responsibilities, especially from the World Bank, although an official announcement to this effect is yet to be made.Mandisa Mashologu of ECIAfrica said, ” We are pleased to note that, even though the Namibia Joint Regional Trade Programme may be coming to an end, we as ECIAfrica are continuing our presence and role in Namibia through our South African International Business Linkages programme and NCCI.”