Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba is calling on government ministries and private companies to develop the plots they've secured from the Nkurenkuru Town Council.

Pohamba says Nkurenkuru is strategically located for success in various business sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, among others.

The former president is the patron of the Nkurenkuru Expo, and his speech was read on his behalf at a dinner aimed at raising funds for the expo, slated for next month.

"Let us take this opportunity and venture into various sectors and development as there is great potential, especially in cultural tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, goods and services, construction, and many others. This is a good opportunity, as I have already mentioned that we should not leave these plots idling but at least contribute to the economic development of this fast-growing town."

Mayor Japhet Muti says Nkurenkuru is ready for business, inviting investors from various sectors to take advantage of the opportunities offered in the town.

"We still invite businesspeople to venture into the area of shopping, giving our residents a convenient shopping experience and shortening the distance, where some are travelling to Rundu and some are travelling to Tsumeb."

Muti says Nkurenkuru Town Council is committed to growing the Nkurenkuru Expo to become a hive of business opportunities and small and medium enterprise development.

Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industries Nkurenkuru Branch Chairperson Andreas Ngoma called on the regional council and Nkurenkuru Town to procure goods and services from local businesses.

Ngoma believes this will contribute to the development of the town and its people, as well as the Kavango West Region in general.

"The councils should consider creating business opportunities for local businesses to groom and empower them so that one day they can invest back in the region."

Recon Namibia, a subsidiary of Recon Africa, is the main sponsor of the Expo to the tune of N$150,000.

"We have become, and we are happy for that; we have become a household name in the region, and we are pleased and honoured to be present at the 2023 Nkurenkuru Town Expo fundraising dinner tonight, where we all want to cement our relationships for the benefit of the town itself, as the mayor mentioned it is situated in a very good place, and it's worth all of us putting our effort into helping it up," said Robert Mwanachilenga, adding that through its environmental social governance strategy, Recon Namibia has invested heavily in various sectors, including education, water supply, and sport, among others, in the two regions.

About N$300,000 was pledged at the dinner, with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation pledging N$50,000 in kind.