World Cup to boost Namibian economy

SOUTH AFRICA’S successful bid to host the soccer World Cup in 2010 will be a major booster to the Namibian economy, officials said yesterda

Andrew Ndishishi, Permanent Secretary of Trade and Industry said the local economy was likely to benefit not only in the transport sector, but also in tourism and service provision. He said that due to Namibia’s proximity to South Africa, there were “a lot of services we can supply to the process.”He said Namibia will also be called upon to provide services to people coming to South Africa who cannot be accommodated there.”We will definitely market the whole thing as a package,” said Ndishishi.Air Namibia’s Public Relations and Advertising Manager, Ellison Hijarunguru, said the 2010 World Cup was an enormous business opportunity that could mean a lot for his company and Namibia.”We stand to benefit a lot because our currency is linked [to the South African rand], this is the cleanest place and the country is low in crime.One of those teams may camp here,” he said.Hijarunguru said Air Namibia would take the opportunity to market itself and may even consider introducing charter flights between Namibia and South Africa.Currently Air Namibia provides transport from Windhoek to Cape Town or Johannesburg twice daily.Tulimeyo Kaapanda of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) said the World Cup can be meaningful for Namibia’s economy in terms of direct and spinoff benefits.She said sectors including tourism, catering, health facilities and car rentals stand to benefit from the large number of people expected in this part of the world for the competition.However, Kaapanda warned that the Namibian businesses must be prepared well on time and should “not take the time for granted, six years may seem a long time but it is not in reality”.She also said that some of the spectators who would be coming for the tournament will be rich people who will also be looking for local investment opportunities.”Namibians should really market themselves vigorously,” she said.”It’s time to get international.”Soccer is the world’s most popular game and its crowning moment is the four-yearly World Cup.At the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan 195 countries from all over the world competed to join the host countries and the title holders, as one of the last 32 teams in the finals.He said that due to Namibia’s proximity to South Africa, there were “a lot of services we can supply to the process.”He said Namibia will also be called upon to provide services to people coming to South Africa who cannot be accommodated there.”We will definitely market the whole thing as a package,” said Ndishishi.Air Namibia’s Public Relations and Advertising Manager, Ellison Hijarunguru, said the 2010 World Cup was an enormous business opportunity that could mean a lot for his company and Namibia.”We stand to benefit a lot because our currency is linked [to the South African rand], this is the cleanest place and the country is low in crime.One of those teams may camp here,” he said.Hijarunguru said Air Namibia would take the opportunity to market itself and may even consider introducing charter flights between Namibia and South Africa.Currently Air Namibia provides transport from Windhoek to Cape Town or Johannesburg twice daily.Tulimeyo Kaapanda of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) said the World Cup can be meaningful for Namibia’s economy in terms of direct and spinoff benefits.She said sectors including tourism, catering, health facilities and car rentals stand to benefit from the large number of people expected in this part of the world for the competition.However, Kaapanda warned that the Namibian businesses must be prepared well on time and should “not take the time for granted, six years may seem a long time but it is not in reality”.She also said that some of the spectators who would be coming for the tournament will be rich people who will also be looking for local investment opportunities.”Namibians should really market themselves vigorously,” she said.”It’s time to get international.”Soccer is the world’s most popular game and its crowning moment is the four-yearly World Cup.At the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan 195 countries from all over the world competed to join the host countries and the title holders, as one of the last 32 teams in the finals.