Erongo Governor Neville Andre says the Namibian Ports Authority's, (NamPort) achievements over the past 30 years should be enough to inspire and drive the nation's industrialisation agenda, with broader participation and beneficiation for all Namibians in the logistics industry.

Speaking at the Annual Port Users and Stakeholders' Dinner held at Walvis Bay, Andre said Africa, particularly Southern Africa and Namibia, are greatly endowed with mineral resources and other primary raw materials.

He noted that Africa is home to at least 30 percent of the world's mineral reserves, and of great relevance of late, the highest deposits of some of the most sought-after raw materials required for global decarbonisation.

He said the potential opportunities presented by these reserves and many others are numerous.

Regrettably, he said African nations continue to see raw materials exported in unprocessed or semi-processed form.

"Our ports have transformed into some of the most modern and efficient ports in Africa. However, our journey does not conclude here. There remains much work ahead of us, but I am confident that with your continued support and dedication, we will build upon this strong foundation and further enhance our maritime sector. As the government, it is our duty to continue to see to it that Namport and all state-owned enterprises and agencies are fully equipped with all the requisite resources that are necessary for the effective discharge of their mandates. The strong collaboration between the office of the Governor and Namport and the logistics sector is a source of great pride to me."

He said becoming the leading transport and logistics gateway in the region is only achievable through continued collaboration with key players in the maritime industry. 

"As we look to the future, the government remains committed to enhancing our position as a logistics hub for Southern Africa. We are focused on creating an enabling environment for the growth of the sector, with particular emphasis on improving port infrastructure, streamlining customs procedures, and enhancing connectivity to key markets in line with the objectives of the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). Our vision is clear: we want to position Namibia as the."

He added that Namport already started on this journey with a shift in the focus of its business model to a landlord model. 

In so doing, he said, the company effectively facilitates collaboration and participation with the private sector and ordinary Namibians.