Observer Money

Synthetic diamonds lose shine

Synthetic diamonds lose shine

Synthetics diamonds prices are trading as low as 98 percent below the Rapaport Price List for natural diamonds. Rapaport said Walmart sells a 3 ct., Round, F-G, VS1-VS2, synthetic diamond solitaire ring for US$2,975, while Signet’s Blue Nile sells a similar 3.00 ct., Round, G, VS1 synthetic diamond solitaire ring for US$8,190. That’s a 275 percent difference for the same ring, it said. De Beers said in September that it had decided to call time on offering lab-grown diamonds for engagement rings even as the man-made alternatives continue to cannibalise demand in one of the company’s most important markets. Mines…
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WIPO to develop innovation ecosystem

WIPO to develop innovation ecosystem

Chamwe Kaira World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Director General Daren Tang has pledged the Organization’s continued support for the strengthening of Namibia’s innovation ecosystem. Tang who visited Namibia this week disclosed that Namibian officials expressed their commitment to strengthening the innovation ecosystem with intellectual property (IP) as a core part of policies to promote growth and development. Tang underlined WIPO’s vision of intellectual property as a powerful catalyst for jobs, investments, business growth and economic and social development in all parts of the world. He said WIPO is building a more inclusive IP ecosystem, focusing on startups and small and…
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Germans top tourist arrivals

Germans top tourist arrivals

The majority of guests at hospitality establishments nationwide predominantly hail from Europe, with Germany, Switzerland, and Austria collectively constituting the largest share of international tourist arrivals at 42.3 percent, according to October tourism numbers. France follows closely behind, accounting for 7.4 percent of the total international tourist arrivals. At a regional level, South Africa is noteworthy, representing 4.4 percent of the aggregate guest composition in hospitality establishments throughout Namibia. Namibia's hospitality sector exhibited resilience in October, with national occupancy rates holding steady at 65.5 percent, consistent with the figures reported in September. This marked an improvement from the 54.6 percent…
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Schlumberger to employ 22 on rig plant

Schlumberger to employ 22 on rig plant

Services Pétroliers Schlumberger (SLB), a globally recognised oilfield services giant listed on the stock exchanges in New York, Paris, and London, plans to employ 22 people on its planed Liquid Mud Plant (LMP) at Berth 8, situated within the Port of Walvis Bay. The company is in the early stages of proposing the construction and operation of the plant at Berth 8, situated within the Port of Walvis Bay, managed by the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport). According to a project update that was released this week currently eleven employees are in service of SLB at the Port of Walvis Bay.…
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Osino focused on the financing Twin Hills

Osino focused on the financing Twin Hills

Chamwe Kaira Osino Resources Corporation remains focused on the financing and pre-construction activities at its Twin Hills, including de-risking the mineral resource estimate and the initial years of production. Osino is currently drilling to convert the first two years of mining from indicated to measured mineral resource category and to confirm and upgrade the Twin Hills Mineral Resource Estimate. “Osino remains focused on the financing and pre-construction activities at Twin Hills, including de-risking the mineral resource estimate and the initial years of production.” Heye Daun, Osino's President and CEO commented said the company is highly encouraged by these excellent assay…
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New opportunities to deepen US trade and investment in Namibia open up

New opportunities to deepen US trade and investment in Namibia open up

Niël Terblanché New optimism about the future of Namibia's economic engagement with the United States of America has begun to manifest. The American Ambassador to Namibia, Ambassador Randy Berry, recently said that the United States of America is committed to strengthening trade and investment ties with Namibia and other African countries. Ambassador Berry stressed the importance of these partnerships for mutual prosperity and the significance of Africa's youthful population. "The United States is all in on Africa," Ambassador Berry declared, referencing the affirmation made during the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit last December. He emphasized the United States' focus on Africa's future…
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Capricorn Group contributes N$500 000 towards COP28

Capricorn Group contributes N$500 000 towards COP28

Martin Endjala The Capricorn Group, through collaboration between the Capricorn Foundation and Bank Windhoek, donated a total of N$500 000 to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism towards Namibia’s participation and pavilion at the Conference of Parties (COP28) conference which will be held from 30 November 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is the second year that Capricorn Group, Capricorn Foundation, and Bank Windhoek have donated towards Namibia’s participation at COP28. Ruan Bestbier, Capricorn Group Head of Sustainability said the pivotal sponsorship of the Namibian Pavilion at COP28 is more than a financial commitment or supporting a…
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Osino invested N$634 million in Twin Hills Gold Mine since 2017

Osino invested N$634 million in Twin Hills Gold Mine since 2017

Martin Endjala Osino Resources, a British-owned company, has invested a total of N$634 million in its Twin Hills Gold Mine project near Karibib since its inception in 2017. This foreign direct investment has contributed significantly to the economy and has resulted in the creation of roughly 1,000 jobs. This information comes from the mining company's recent announcement of its Sustainable Report for the 2022 financial year. According to the report, the company's procurement spending amounted to N$124 million, with N$27 million paid in wages and N$3 million paid to the government for social security, PAYE, workman's compensation, and training levy.…
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Namibia and Ghana embark on a tourism and business initiative

Namibia and Ghana embark on a tourism and business initiative

Martin Endjala The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), in collaboration with their Ghanaian counterparts, have initiated a tourism and business initiative aimed at boosting trade between the two countries. In Namibia, this initiative is scheduled to run from 18 to 25 November with the possibility of extending it into December. Charmaine Matheus, Head of Marketing at NTB, stressed the importance of African countries engaging in trade with each other. She pointed out that the visit by the Ghanaian delegation to tour Namibia serves as a means of mutual understanding and an opportunity…
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Bureaucracy affects mining investment

Bureaucracy affects mining investment

Chamwe Kaira Bureaucracy hinders Namibia’s attractiveness as a mining investment destination, prominent businessman, Dr Leake Hangala said this week. “To be honest our mining regime in Namibia is quite attractive compared to other countries, some feel we may have high taxes, here and there,” he told Observer Money this week. Hangala feels the problem in Namibia is bureaucracy. “The problem we have in Namibia is bureaucracy. “The amount of time it takes to get some of the necessary permits and papers. If the government can reduce that as well the issues related to environment impact studies,” he said. He said…
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