Hundreds of people lined up at the Havana three-way in the capital to apply for employment for phase one of the construction of the Kaoko Fria Smart City along the coast in the Kunene Region, covering about 85,000 hectares.

Kaoko Fria Investment will be taking job applications across all 14 regions and is projected to employ over 100,000 people nationwide.

Expected to commence later this year, the N$1.6 trillion project will create thousands of jobs for both skilled and unskilled labourers.

Managing Director at Kaoko Fria Investment, Michael Petrus, said this idea was initially spearheaded by Founding President Dr. Sam Nujoma until he took over in 2021.

He said feasibility studies have concluded, and they now require human resources to commence with phase one of the project.

Phase one includes the construction of a deep-sea port, a data centre, and a railway line that will run through the northern region, all the way to Katima Mulilo.

Petrus said the establishment of the city will not only address the housing and employment crisis in the country but will also have a positive impact on the country's economy, as it will improve trade along the western coastline.