The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy (MIME), the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA), and Desert Planet Industries (DPI) have signed an agreement to operationalise the Ondangwa Northern Tannery in the Oshana Region.
The Ministry said the signing, held on 26 September 2025, marks the revival of a key agro-processing facility that will drive value addition, job creation, and industrialisation.
Under the partnership, the tannery will convert raw hides into finished leather products for local markets and export, creating opportunities for farmers, workers, and surrounding communities.
“The Namibian Government remains committed to fostering sustainable industrial growth and unlocking the full potential of Namibia’s agro-processing value chains,”the ministry said.
The tannery, located near Ondangwa Airport, was first established in 2001 with a N$42 million loan from the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Despite having a processing capacity of 10,000 hides per month, it later struggled with under-utilisation due to an insufficient supply of hides and skins for export processing.
