Naloba grows strong

Association eager to find solutions
Naloba say the trade fair presents an opportunity to market the association and what it stands for.
TUYEIMO HAIDULA
Close to seven months into its existence, the Namibia Local Business Association (Naloba) is slowly but surely finding its feet.

The association continues to maintain that foreign nationals should not conduct business in economic sectors in which Namibians are able to showcase their skills.

Naloba was established and fully registered on 15 December 2021. Since then, membership has grown to close to 3 000, with a majority of new members having left the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) for Naloba.

In an exclusive interview with the Namibian Sun, Naloba vice president Kanu Amadhila said the business climate is "still very, very stiff for local businessmen and women. The markets are dominated by unregulated foreign-owned businesses. Lack of domestic business protections/reservations of certain sectors purely for Namibians contributed to the above."

We will not relent

Despite these challenges, Amadhila was quick to add that the association will not relent, as it was created exactly for this purpose, namely "to revive the collapse of small and medium businesses."

He said "the situation needs to be remedied. This is why we strongly condemn allowing foreign nationals to do business in economic sectors that Namibians can do."

Amadhila said the association's voice has remained loud and clear and they will continue to make demands for legislative changes to protect Namibians from exploitation and competing with foreigners in markets that don’t need the technical know-how.

He stressed that the Namibia investment promotion and facilitation bill is the most critical and needs to be prioritised.

"Our plight and advocacy continues. For things to change and results to be seen with the naked eye, certain laws need to be amended while others need to be enacted. Principally, our Investment Bill needs to be enacted. Without this law in place, the country's economy and its business climate have no direction while business anarchy escalates. This is the most critical law that needs to be in place in any country for its people to prosper," he said.



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Naloba will be present at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF). Amadhila said the trade fair presents an opportunity for them to market the association and what it stands for. He urged visitors to visit their stall for more details and to join the association. ?

“Fellow businessmen and women, let us join hands under Naloba to radically transform our Namibian economy into a powerful house for the benefit of our people. Our country is blessed with natural resources ,but sadly our people remain poor. Let us join hands to overturn poverty into economic prosperity for all. Going forward, let us all join Naloba,” he said. - tuyeimo@namibiansun.com