Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo has emphasised the need to ensure that the new oil discoveries benefit ordinary Namibians and not merely those that are connected.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do we ensure that all Namibians benefit? And by \u2018Namibians\u2019 I am not referring to the \u2018connected\u2019 middlemen who approach investors with their family album instead of their CV. I am, instead, referring to the deserving sons and daughters who have little or no access,\u201d said Alweendo here on Wednesday, during the Namibia International Energy Conference.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
He stressed that it shall be made a requirement for international oil companies to ensure that all services that can be immediately provided by local entrepreneurs be sourced locally.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Alweendo further emphasised that in cases where local entrepreneurs are not able to provide certain services, the government will need to have a clear programme as to how to capacitate local entrepreneurs, through joint ventures with experienced international service providers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no doubt that our recent oil discoveries can and must help unlock industrial activities through the transfer of technology, more value addition in domestic supply sectors, the generation of indirect jobs along the supply chain, and the creation of business opportunities for entrepreneurs from local procurement,\u201d said Alweendo.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
He further noted that partnership between State and investors should be of mutual benefit, which allows for parties to share risks and reward.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Alweendo further mentioned that the discoveries have been made in the \u201cera of reimaging\u201d, which provides the framework for Government to reimagine Namibia\u2019s socio-economic landscape in ways that benefit Namibians in the present and the future.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cOur management and exploitation of natural resources cannot continue \u2018business as usual\u2019. We need to manage the resources with a clear understanding that the resources and the benefits derived from them belong to both the current and future generations,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: The Namibian Press Agency<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo has emphasised the need to ensure that the new oil discoveries benefit ordinary Namibians and not merely those that are connected.\u201cHow do we ensure that all Namibians benefit? And by \u2018Namibians\u2019 I am not refer…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n