The Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Lucia Iipumbu, says the Buy Local, Grow Namibia campaign remains pivotal in encouraging Namibians to support local businesses and industries. 

The campaign is aimed at supporting local manufacturers and innovators through the purchasing of local products and utilisation of local services.

Since it was launched in October 2020, the campaign embarked on two phases. 

The first phase of the buy local campaign focused largely on retailers stocking locally made products while encouraging Namibians to take pride in consuming what is produced in Namibia.

The second phase is targeted to help Namibian businesses understand various standards and requirements to shelve their products in local retail shops.

It also promotes its products and services and encourages Namibians to support their community by shopping locally.

"We have noted good results since the initiation of this campaign, and we want to keep the momentum until we reach a point where we scale our local productive capacity and curb the surge of imported products, which are currently dominating our local retail shelves," said Ipumbu. 

This year, the campaign brought a new dimension to the campaign with the introduction of the Trolley Dash Competition. 

The competition aims to reward consumers who support Namibian-made products and local businesses, while at the same time highlighting the benefits of buying local.

"This Trolley-Dash Campaign is more than just a fun activity. It is a celebration of what Namibia has to offer; it showcases the quality of Namibian-made products, creativity, and passion. It also signifies Namibian creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation by highlighting local products across multiple retail touchpoints. Therefore, let us continue to support and grow our local industries, not just for today but every day of our lives."

The Trolley Dash Campaign will run over the next two months until the end of January, and shoppers are encouraged to look out for locally made products.