The Walvis Bay Rural Constituency Councillor has advised small business owners to focus more on creative businesses to secure funding.

Florian Donatus was speaking at the handover of machinery and equipment to 20 SMEs valued at N$150,000.

"We want a creative to fund creativity so that a person that does welding and fabrication will be able to bring for us, to do for us, doors, to do for us beds, to do for us desks and other things, and for you, if you cannot, we cannot do that at the regional level, the constituency level; you will be stuck as an upcoming business, and you, we must cover that gap."

Donatus, however, said the council does not decide for applicants on the types of businesses to venture into.

"So one thing that I want you to understand is that we don't choose what you want us to do; we invite applications. You choose your own project, but once you bring the project. The projects are being evaluated by the committee to see which projects are viable; we don't just fund any project. Yes, it's a good idea, but will the project or will the business succeed in Walvis Bay?

He urged the small business owners to take care of their equipment.

"The material must do business in rural Walvis Bay to help out the people of Walvis Bay rural and to improve the lives of the people of Walvis Bay rural."

The equipment is part of the Erongo Regional Council's Constituency Development Fund aimed at supporting local initiatives and empowering residents to improve their livelihoods.