Leaders in Namibia’s Erongo Region are urging urgent measures to harness the economic opportunities at Uis, focusing on tourism, mining, and community empowerment. For the first time, the Erongo Governor, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, held the regional tourism forum in Uis, located in the rural Daures Constituency.

Governor Natalia |Goagoses emphasized local ownership and entrepreneurship:
“We are not beggars. We are investors. We are entrepreneurs on our land. It’s now time for us to take ownership and become aware of what we have. The private voice came and told the governor how we could grow you further so that you can grow and bring up my emerging entrepreneurs.”

She highlighted Uis’ rich natural assets, including tourism prospects, farming, and green hydrogen resources:
“Tourism you find it, all these land uses, including farming, Uis now being upgraded, we have them all, hardly you find it in one set up. All these areas, Green Hydrogen is found here, so we cannot be poor. We cannot be beggars if we have all these in Uis. So as leaders, we are going to ensure that whatever needs to be done after this forum is accelerated.”

Namibia Development Trust CEO Ronny Dempers illustrated simple value-chain opportunities for tourism, such as local food production:
“You don’t need to start a campsite or only those things. When you eat breakfast, a popular meal, what is the main thing that you eat during breakfast? Eggs. Can eggs be hatched in Uis? Yes. Maybe one or two entrepreneurs, maybe youth cooperatives can produce eggs—tailored, supported, produced quality eggs. Tomatoes, chili, whatever can be grown here. Those are the value chains. It’s not charity, it’s business. You produce, you create employment, you support tourism.”

Both leaders stressed the importance of collaboration among government, private sector, and communities to realize Uis’ economic potential.