The Upstream Oil and Gas Local Suppliers workshop, hosted by FirstRand Group Namibia and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, convened to explore Namibian participation in the oil and gas value chain. The workshop aims to build the technical, operational, and compliance capacity of local suppliers.

Erasmus Shivolo, Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, underscored the importance of the sector to Namibia’s economic growth.
“NDP 6 prioritises the development of the upstream petroleum industry as a key driver of socio-economic growth while underscoring the vital role of MSMEs in advancing inclusive growth, job creation, and industrialisation. However, this ambition can only be realised by deliberately equipping and integrating local businesses into the sector’s value chain through targeted support in capacity building, access to finance, and market participation,” he said.

Carlo McLeod, Deputy Head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit, stressed the urgency:
“We are now at the critical point leading up to FID (final investment decision), which will determine whether billions of dollars in capital investment flow into this country and create generational opportunities for Namibians. The question, however, that we need to answer is, are our local businesses, our local entrepreneurs, ready to participate? That is precisely why we are here this morning.”