The Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) is embarking on a project that will increase accessibility to fish distribution centres around the country.

The implementation of this project will cost N$807 000. 

Currently, NFCPT operates 18 fish shops in 17 towns across the country.

NFCPT Public Relations Officer, De Wet Siluka, stressed the major role that fish distribution agents play in promoting fish consumption by making it accessible and affordable. "Their contribution is quite significant because in order for you to start a fish shop you need to invest a lot, so in order for us to cut down on this and make it affordable, we give it to the distributors in a way that these distributors will operate in areas that we do not have a footprint."

Siluka said the trust currently provides fish to 40 SMEs and individuals for re-distribution, but this, he says, is not enough, which prompted the initiation of the project to recruit potential start-ups, SMEs, and other retailers with growth potential to establish and grow businesses in fish retail.

"We have enough fish distributors. However, the importance of this project is that we want people that will be supplying fish to have capacity because there is a risk in running the business. These are SOE assets, so we need to handle them carefully so that at least we create an opportunity for youth to generate income and an opportunity for employment."

The training, which will be conducted in phases, will run for a period of 17 months in all the country's 14 regions. These phases will focus on capacity building of fish distrusting agents, how to develop sustainable business proposals and mentorship. 

Siluka added that the fish biomass still looks promising given the 550 000 metric tons of fish counted per year.