KHORIXAS: President Hifikepunye Pohamba has called on the youth in the Kunene Region to join the Kunene Regional Youth Forum and benefit from the assistance channeled to it by Government.
The call was made during the official opening of the two-day Kunene Regional Youth Enterprise Expo at Khorixas on Friday, in a speech read on Pohamba’s behalf by Kunene Regional Governor Josua //Hoebeb.
“Government supports the Kunene Regional Youth Forum through the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture and the National Youth Council, and by extension of its general membership; financially, on an annual basis. This enables the Kunene Regional Youth forum to carry out activities, programmes and projects for the benefit and good of the youth,” said Pohamba. The governor explained that the youth forum is an organisation mandated to represent, articulate and promote the diverse interests and aspirations of young people in the Kunene Region.
Pohamba further said it makes him proud to be leading a wise generation with a vision to go forward.
“It is a good sign to see young people from the Kunene Region taking ownership of their developmental needs. I urge you to stand up and approach relevant authorities as Namibia is a country of open-door policies,” he noted.
The Head of State added that young people in the region are eager to invest in themselves, work towards a fulfilling future and understand and prepare themselves for economic freedom.
“I have noticed that the Kunene Regional Youth Forum stood up and approached Namport (Namibian Port Authority) to strengthen the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector owned by the young people. We predict a larger line-up each year for credit for youth in business from the Kunene Region,” he noted.
The President also stated that a vibrant, growing economy depends on the efficiency of the process by which new ideas are quickly discovered, acted on, and labelled as successes or failures. Just as important as identifying successes, he said, is making sure that failures are quickly extinguished freeing poorly used resources to go elsewhere.
“It is vital to note that successful entrepreneurs expand the size of their economic pie for everyone,” he concluded.
At least 50 exhibitors from the six constituencies in the region – Epupa, Khorixas, Opuwo, Kamanjab, Sesfontein and Outjo – participated in the expo.
The theme of the Kunene Regional Youth Enterprise Expo was ‘Stand Up for Entrepreneurial Innovation’.