By:Uakutura Kambaekua
Under the theme,”Promoting Sports, Tourism, and Trade for Sustainable Development”,the 10th edition of the annual Opuwo Trade Fair is underway at the Epupa Open Market Complex.
The event kicked off , at a slow pace, attracting about a hundred visitors since the gates opened on Monday.There are 123 exhibitors participating at the trade fair, showcasing unique products made in Opuwo
Since its inception, the Opuwo Trade Fair has maintained a platform where various business people and service providers converge.
As usual, the Town Council has incorporated a career fair, culture, boxing bonanza, and tourism expo, the Miss Opuwo beauty pageant and a music bash.
Speaking during the official opening on Wednesday, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila highlighted the importance of local trading, stating that it is imperative to buy locally made products as this expands the local economy and reduces dependency.
“It is important that, as Namibians, we buy locally made products as this supports local enterprises’ development, promotes job creation and economic expansion, and reduces reliance on imports which exposes us to shocks from external factors,” she noted.
“I hope to see a wide range of Namibian-made products displayed at this fair so that Namibians get an appreciation of what is locally available so that they can support our local producers.”
The Prime Minister also stated that the disruptions in supply chains which have caused shortages of critical supplies and price hikes in basic products have highlighted the vulnerability of the economy due to reliance on imports and the need to build national resilience by developing self-reliance in basic commodities.
“It is also important for the resilience of our economy that we engage in value addition. Natural resources offer a basis for industrialization through the processing of raw resources. By adding value to our natural resources, we optimise opportunities for job creation and increase earnings from processed resources, thereby optimising the benefits of our natural resources for our country,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila pointed out.
She said that the government will continue to support local businesses and foreign investors in order to promote increased investment in the country, adding trade fairs provide a platform for businesses to establish contacts that will translate into business relations.

“I urge all participants to optimise their participation at the trade fair by effectively marketing their products and forging business relations that will support their business’s growth,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.
She further urged the public to optimise the convergence of businesses at the trade fair to source products and also to get to know the range of products offered in Opuwo and those from elsewhere across the country.
According to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, the government’s development policy advocates for locally driven economic growth, growth that optimises the welfare conditions of Namibians, leverages the country’s abundant natural resources, harnesses the energies and creativities of our youth, and optimises the opportunities for increased trade brought about by regional integration and globalisation.
She stated that the country observed a rebound in the economyafter a prolonged economic downturn occasioned by weather-related emergencies and Covid-19.
“The recovery presents an opportunity for new emerging businesses to enter the market and for the existing businesses to turn around their businesses which were negatively impacted by these emergencies,” she added.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister noted that the government has launched several initiatives aimed to support economic and business recovery and to promote the development of MSMEs as drivers for job creation and entry points for aspirant entrepreneurs into the mainstream economy.
“The government undertook a review of the support that it provides to business support to assess their responsiveness to the current needs of businesses and has worked out measures to improve them,” she noted.
“In this regard, the approved measures under the business rescue task force report are under implementation, including a business rescue fund that will assist debt-ridden companies to get the much-needed relief, so that they can turn around their fortunes and help consolidate the economic recovery and put out economy back on a higher growth trajectory,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila concluded.
Opuwo Mayor Rosa Mbing-Tjeundo stated that the fair is vital to the Town Council as it builds a competitive and conducive business environment, one that will promote local and international investment.
Tjeundo also urged the community to work together in bringing the much-needed service to the masses, stating that social cohesion will assist the government in fulfilling its mandate of service delivery and economic development.
Additionally, the Mayor stated that the fair’s theme has set the tone well as it continues to strive for building a competitive environment while at the same time used to attract investors and create opportunities through business networking.