ONGWEDIVA: President Hifikepunye Pohamba says the Small and Medium Enterprise Bank (SME Bank), which will provide capital and advice to local SMEs, is expected to become operational before the end of this year.

Pohamba said this whilst officially opening the 2012 Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) yesterday.

In addition to the establishment of the SME Bank, according to Pohamba, the Namibian Government has also amended the Tender Board Regulations to enable more participation for SMEs in public procurement tenders.

He explained that since Independence in 1990, Government has invested significant resources and made various efforts to establish a conducive environment for businesses to operate in and create wealth, such as the Sites and Premises Initiative under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

The Head of State pointed out that as part of the implementation of the said initiative, Government has established industrial parks and SME modules around the country with the aim to promote entrepreneurship and boost trade and commercial activities in the country.

The 2012 OATF, which is in its 13th edition this year, commenced last Friday and will run until this Saturday.

A 37-year-old man lost his life on Sunday afternoon when he was crushed to death by a machine at the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco)’s Okapuka feedlot on the northern outskirts of Windhoek.

Khomas Regional Police Commander, Commissioner Festus Shilongo told Nampa at a media briefing here yesterday afternoon that the man died on the spot.

According to Shilongo, the accident took place when a colleague of the man unknowingly switched on a machine at the feedlot while the deceased person was busy cleaning the machine, causing his head to be crushed.

The man’s identity could not be revealed as the police were yet to inform his relatives about his death.

The accident took place at about 12h30 on Sunday.