The Chamber of Mines of Namibia says its upcoming annual mining expo, having previously hosted 162 exhibitors and 270 booths, is expecting a record-breaking turnout this year.
Chamber of Mines Chief Executive Officer Veston Malango says with just six weeks remaining, 145 exhibitors have already secured 245 booths, suggesting a near sell-out event.
Malango expressed confidence in the last-minute surge of interest, noting significant participation not only from regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, but also from major global players such as Germany, Canada and Finland.
The expo, renowned for its industry insights and networking opportunities, promises to be a pivotal event for stakeholders across the mining sector.
“We believe they are going to be sold out due to the last minute dash. The response is very good, even from the SADC countries and even big players in the EU, like Germany, Canada and Finland are showing interest,†he says.
The Chamber of Mines announced on Wednesday that the upcoming 11th Mining Expo & Conference is scheduled for 7 to 8 August 2024, at the Windhoek Showgrounds.
This year’s event is proudly sponsored by RMB, a leading financial services provider to Namibia’s mining sector.
The Mining Expo & Conference is the premier event for industry professionals, suppliers and stakeholders to converge and explore the latest developments and career opportunities in the mining sector.
The CEO noted that the 2024 event will feature a wide range of exhibitors, showcasing the latest innovations and technologies that are propelling the industry forward.
“Exhibitors and attendees can look forward to concurrent activities such as the Mining Conference, the Supplier’s Platform and Business-to-Business networking sessions,†he said.
This comes as the mining industry recorded a strong growth of 18.9% in 2023, increasing its GDP contribution from 11.9% in 2022 to 14.4% in 2023.
Additionally, the expanding industry contributed to a 12.6% rise in direct employment compared to 2022.
In 2023, the total taxes paid by the mining sector amounted to N$6.861 billion, marking a significant increase of 55.9% from N$4.401 billion in 2022.
