Keetmanshoop: Governor of the ||Kharas Region, Dawid Gertze, on Thursday said the inauguration of the Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) will strengthen the region's economic resilience and expand opportunities for youth skills development. Gertze made the remarks during the official opening of the training centre in Keetmanshoop.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Gertze highlighted that the facility is strategically located within a key southern corridor that supports trade, logistics, tourism, and emerging energy sectors such as green hydrogen and solar power. He stated that the establishment of the centre enables young people in the region to access technical and vocational training locally, reducing the need to relocate to other areas.

"For many years, vocational training was unfairly perceived as a second choice," he said, adding that modern economies rely heavily on artisans, technicians, and other skilled professionals. Gertze emphasised that the KVTC will serve as a platform for strengthened collaboration between government, industry, and local communities to ensure that training programmes remain aligned with labour market demands.

Addressing trainees, he said the skills acquired at the centre will enable them to contribute meaningfully to infrastructure development, innovation, and entrepreneurship. "Within these walls you will acquire skills that can build homes, maintain infrastructure, drive innovation, and create businesses," he said.

He urged trainees to remain disciplined and committed to their studies, adding that the centre has the potential to become a national benchmark for excellence in vocational training. Gertze said investment in vocational education is critical to empowering young people to become job creators rather than job seekers.