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Launch of the Namibia Trade Network: Reviving an Economy
The Namibia Trade Directory was started right after Namibia’s independence by the late Paul van Schalkwyk under Venture Media and from the outset was endorsed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (presently the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade). The aim was to compile a portfolio of all that Namibia has to offer in terms of businesses, investment and services. In 2019 the name was changed from Namibia Trade Directory to Namibia Trade Network. Today, after three decades, Namibia Trade Network still offers unparalleled information on the business and investment landscape and still enjoys support from the Ministry, which recognises the value this publication has for Namibian trade development.
On 4 November, the 31st edition was launched and celebrated with clients, the media and relevant ministries, among them the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board with whom the Namibia Trade Network proudly partners.
Speaking at the launch, Margareth Gustavo, Executive Director: Strategy & Branding at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, said this year’s theme, Reviving an Economy, is particularly relevant as the country is at the stage where the business community needs to act. According to her, it is everything but business as usual. “We need to grow fast, in leaps and bounds, as a people and even as companies in a country. We must grow quickly to be able to stand on the world stage and speak about Namibia boldly. Therefore we partnered with the Namibia Trade Network, because it will help us position Namibia better. It will help us to market Namibia and create awareness of our country.”
The Namibia Trade Network offers much more than an annual publication, it is in fact a network of businesses and business professionals. Furthermore, its online footprint has grown into an extensive website where each client is represented on their own profile page. Clients are also represented on the Namibia Trade Networks’ social media pages, boasting 4,000 LinkedIn followers and 11,500 Facebook followers.
The online publication is available for free digitally and is read across the world. The main countries being the USA, South Africa, Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, India, Italy, and France.
Hard copies of the Namibia Trade Network are distributed among clients and selected local businesses, at local conferences, trade fairs and expos. They are handed out at events hosted and attended by the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT), to other government ministries, foreign diplomatic missions in Namibia, Namibia’s diplomatic missions and embassies abroad as well as the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to name but a few.
Over the years the Namibia Trade Network has showcased the success of homegrown entities to boost investment in Namibia both locally and internationally alongside with other major role players.
With the assistance, support and commitment of the MIT and NIPDB, the Namibia Trade Network was able to further expand its mandate to relevant business meetings, expos, summits and conferences.
As stated by Gustavo, “The important thing now is that the NIPDB has the Namibia Trade Network that gives us information on what it means to do business in this country and on top of that, these are the companies that have already invested in Namibia.”
If we were to dissect the words of this year’s theme, Reviving an Economy, the word ‘economy’ is defined as the system according to which money, industries and trade are organised. To revive is to ‘regain life’, ‘to give new strength or energy to’. In pursuit of reviving the economy, Namibians will have to act by giving it new strength and energy to become active and successful again.
We at Venture Media are proud to once again have launched this very special publication and we trust that our partnership with the NIPDB will bring forth further success.
“We are privileged and honoured to be partnering with the Namibia Trade Network. We look forward to putting more publications together that will help us promote Namibia, create a lot of awareness about Namibia and, from the NIPDB’s side, engage with investors and get their feedback to move Namibia forward together and not individually. As we said, we are the envy of the world and everyone is watching us. If we do not ‘gang up’ and work together to promote Namibia with one voice and one message we will miss this one chance that we have. But we won’t miss it as we are in partnership with other Namibians to take Namibia forward,“ Gustavo said.
The Namibia Trade Network would like to thank every business that has walked this road with us. Some participated in each of the 31 editions. We also look to grow newly formed relationships over the next 31 years.
Daleen Small
Visit www.issuu.com/travelnewsnamibia/docs/ntd_2021_ issuu22 to view the e-book online.
To book for the 2023 edition, contact:
+264 61 383 450
daleen@venture.com.na
www.namibiatradedirectory.com
