Observer Money

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) has addressed concerns raised by McHenry Venaani, President of Namibia's official opposition party, about the maintenance of its tractor fleet. Jona Musheko, the MAWLR spokesperson, clarified the situation in a statement. Musheko confirmed the Ministry's commitment to the careful maintenance of all its fleets, including tractors. The statement was a response to Venaani's remarks on social media, where he urged the MAWLR to properly maintain its infrastructure instead of scrapping useful implements. Venaani had claimed that the tractors had only minor issues but were being discarded and scrapped in…

The concept of business sustainability is no longer merely fashionable in today's environment; rather, it represents a fundamental change in the way we think about and conduct business. Businesses now view success through a broader prism that goes beyond market supremacy and profit margins to include a profound duty - a commitment to the earth we inhabit. The need for sustainable business practices is a story that connects ecological care and economic success, not just a call to action. Think about the companies that have integrated sustainability into every aspect of their business. There is a strategic acumen at work…

CELESTE NANGOLO A fulfilling and purpose-driven professional life is like a vibrant picture. It is a mix of feeling good, work goals, and personal dreams all scrambled together. The focus is on how setting meaningful goals, blending them into your everyday work, and caring about your overall well-being can work together. It's not just about getting things done; it's about growing together and not just focusing on how much work you do. Setting goals is like having a guide for your personal and professional journeys. It is more than just making a to-do list at the beginning of the year.…

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have extended their long-standing cooperation on setting and implementing global standards for the safe carriage of dangerous goods by air. An agreement to this effect was concluded at the IATA Executive Offices in Geneva during a visit by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar during which greater collaboration between the two organizations was discussed. IATA began issuing guidance for the carriage of Dangerous Goods on aircraft back in 1956 and has been updating and devising standards ever since. Based on the Technical Instructions agreed on at government…

Chamwe Kaira The Namibian economy is projected to grow to 6.6% in 2023, 7.1% in 2024 and 7.7% in 2025, the United Nations said in a World Economic Situation and Prospects 2024 report. The report said economic growth in Africa is projected to remain modest, edging up from an estimated 3.3% in 2023 to 3.5% in 2024 as the region is buffeted by the global economic slowdown and tighter monetary and fiscal conditions. The UN said debt sustainability risks will continue to undermine growth prospects. The impacts of the climate crisis are a growing challenge for key sectors such as…

Chamwe Kaira The Namibia Statistics Agency said this week in trade statistics that during November 2023, goods worth a total of N$4.9 billion, representing a 41.7 percent of total exports left the country by sea, translating into an increase of 66.4 percent when compared to October 2023. The basket of exports via sea comprised mainly of uranium, copper and articles of copper and fish. Goods exported via air accounted for 34.8% of total exports, of which its export basket was mainly made up of precious stones diamonds and non-monetary gold. Road transportation accounted for 23.5% with petroleum oils, fruit and…

Chamwe Kaira Grapes from Aussenkehr in Namibia are on the shelves of all the major supermarkets in the United Kingdom including M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury, Tesco and Morrisons, this is according to Gary Vaughan-Smith, Chief Investment Officer at SilverStreet Capital LLP, which produces table grapes in southern Namibia. “Grapes from Aussenkehr in Namibia are on the shelves of all the major supermarkets in the UK including M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury, Tesco and Morrisons,” said Vaughan-Smith. Earlier, Vaughan-Smith had announced that the firm had completed the table grape harvest on its Namibian farms. The harvesting team of 900 people packed 2.4 million cartons…

The Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB) previously known as the Meat Board of Namibia has announced an increase in stock brand and ear tag fees. This announcement was made in the government gazette No 573. The new fees will see the registration of a brand increase from N$152 to N$163, transfer of brand has increased from N$55 to N$59. On the other hand, the duplicate certificate of brand will increase from N$96 to N$103. The communique said the stock brand fees increased as from 1 January as per government regulations. The LLPB said as the mandated administrator of the…

The Scottish Africa Business Association has announced that a Scottish trade mission will visit Namibia later this month. “Delighted to announce a partnership between SABA and Scottish Government for an energy focussed trade mission to Namibia in February,” the Association said. It said Namibia is aiming to become a green hydrogen superpower in the coming decade by positioning itself as a key international exporter of the commodity. “Investment is already secured for some major projects and key regional collaborations are planned to maximise the opportunity for Southern Africa. Alongside this, the country is pushing ahead with plans to become a…