The Discover Namibia Intra Africa Expo and Business Summit is expected to boost micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs and the township economy.
The event scheduled to take place at Mondesa, Swakopmund, presents an opportunity for the SME sector to access local, African, and international markets.
Innovators, policymakers, experts, financiers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders are expected to attend the Discover Namibia, Intra Africa summit.
"The Mondesa location, where the expo will be hosted this year, consists of low- to middle-income households; many are unemployed, not by choice but due to circumstances. It is of paramount importance that we invest in entrepreneurial activities to be able to survive this current economy. We need skilled and passionate entrepreneurs who, in turn, can create employment in this country," said Dina Namubes, Swakopmund Mayor.
The organisers, led by the President of the Africa Economic Leadership Council, Hafeni Heinrich Nghidipaya, launched the summit to the media ahead of the actual event from the 29th of June until the 1st of July.
"I can attest from personal experience that starting and running a business is no small task as it requires resilience, tenacity, and more importantly, capital. This expo presents the perfect opportunity for our small and medium enterprises to showcase their products and services, all of which have the potential to make an important impact on our society. We have been told that expos are not held in townships. People ask us, 'why are you hosting an expo in a township?' But we have never been so happy to have made this decision."
Nghidipaya, who is a tourism entrepreneur and a local councillor, says communities in the township are often excluded from participating in mainstream economic activities.
"We have gone to the big companies in Windhoek, to the government agencies, and I have travelled this country for the last two months with my team to motivate the big companies to help and support the small businesses so they can come and exhibit their products. This project was inspired by the belief that every Namibian and African should have the opportunity to be empowered with adequate resources and to live a fulfilling life, no matter where they are born or where they are from."
Apart from the trade show, the summit will, among others, host a conference that focuses on unlocking intra-African trade opportunities for small entrepreneurs, townships, and grassroots economies.