The 11th edition of the Opuwo Annual Trade Fair, commemorated under the theme "Facilitating digital transformation to unlock trade, sports, and investment opportunities," was officially opened.

Opuwo Mayor Rosa Tjeundo urged the town's residents to work together for its development and to do away with the narrative of glorifying marginalisation. 

The fair kicked off on May 20 and will run for two weeks until the 1st of June. 

It serves as a welcoming platform for residents of the region to access essential services, as offered by various ministries and institutions. 

"The trade fair is yours; Opuwo is yours; this is the only Opuwo we have, and if we are not putting our hands together to make Opuwo what we want it to be, it will never happen. No one wants to be called marginalised for the rest of their lives, and for you to get out of being marginalised, you have to stand up for yourself and start fighting for what you want to be. To the people of Opuwo, the time is now; nobody can do it for you. Opuwo is for us, Kunene is for us, and Namibia is for us. Let's stand up in numbers; let's start fighting for the cake of Namibia by doing what will help us not to be called marginalised anymore; let's stand together; we fight poverty; we fight for better education; we fight for better health to make our people better," said Tjeundo.

This year's fair hosts 117 exhibitors, as well as 30 braai stands.

The council incorporated a career fair, a boxing bonanza, a culture and tourism expo, as well as the Miss Opuwo beauty pageant, among others. 

The National Planning Commission Director General, Obeth Kandjoze, also addressed the opening event. 

"The Opuwo Annual Trade Fair has long been a catalyst for economic development, and this year's focus on digital transformation underscores or otherwise betters the importance of embracing new technologies. The Opuwo Town Council's commitment to exploring the revolutionary potential of digital technologies in trade, sports, and investments is truly commendable. I am particularly impressed by the initiative to install small prepaid metres, a forward-thinking move that not only helps residents avoid municipal debts but also enhances the town's infrastructure and job creation. Over and above, it promises to revolutionise revenue collection for the development of the very town of Opuwo."