KEETMANSHOOP: With the 2030 deadline for Namibia’s Vision 2030 rapidly approaching, Minister of Industrialisation and Trade Lucia Iipumbu has highlighted the critical role of the burgeoning oil and green hydrogen industries in achieving the nation’s industrialization goals. The minister expressed these views during her official address at the 67th Keetmanshoop Agricultural, Industrial, and Tourism Expo on Tuesday.
According to NAMPA, the discovery of oil and the promising prospects of the green hydrogen industry represent significant strides toward building and growing industries within Namibia, ultimately contributing to the nation’s industrial development. “We are left with seven years before 2030, and while our progress has not met our initial expectations, the emergence of the oil and green hydrogen sectors provides us with valuable resources to fuel our industrialisation agenda,” she stated.
Iipumbu noted the critical role of mining activities in sustaining the ||Kharas Region, emphasizing that such activities have finite lifespans. She underscored the necessity of exploring new industries and dimensions to ensure future sustainability, beyond the life of the region’s current mineral resources.
The minister called for unity and collaboration among the region’s inhabitants, urging them to transcend political and racial divisions. “Let’s embrace innovation, seek out opportunities, and foster collaboration and networking. It is only through such concerted efforts that we can ensure the continued growth and development of this region,” Iipumbu urged.
Additionally, Iipumbu highlighted the need to revive the Brukkaros abattoir and establish additional abattoirs within the region. She expressed her concern over the current practice of transporting livestock to South Africa for processing, resulting in the products being marketed as South African. The minister emphasized the potential for local processing and export, pointing out the existing demand for small stock meat from Middle-Eastern countries and the missed opportunities due to the lack of processing facilities in the region.