Public enterprises have been urged to accelerate the procurement of Namibian-made goods and services, as the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) intensifies efforts to boost local industry participation in public spending.
Speaking at the MICT Year Opening Staff Engagement in Windhoek, ICT Minister Emma Theofelus said prioritising local procurement was a practical tool to support domestic production, job creation and stronger national value chains.
She said the ministry has introduced quarterly engagements with public enterprises and their boards to identify challenges early and prevent operational delays, adding that cooperation to date has been encouraging.
MICT and its entities will increasingly source goods and services from Namibian manufacturers and service providers where quality standards are met, she said.
“This approach supports industry growth, empowers youth-led enterprises and creates real economic opportunities,” Theofelus said.
She encouraged young entrepreneurs to scale up production, assuring them that locally produced goods across various sectors would be supported where standards are met. These include everyday items such as toilet paper and clothing, as well as electronics and specialised equipment.
The minister said local sourcing would also be prioritised in major capital projects, including the construction of regional MICT offices and the ministry’s new head office. She stressed that local procurement must be built into every stage of large-scale projects to ensure economic benefits remain in Namibia.
She cautioned against limiting local procurement to symbolic purchases, saying it must reflect a genuine shift in public sector spending to support a sustainable and competitive manufacturing base.
Public enterprises and business units will be required to submit quarterly reports on their local procurement activities, detailing the extent to which goods and services were sourced from Namibian suppliers with the capacity to deliver.
Theofelus said the reporting requirement would strengthen transparency and accountability, while reinforcing government’s commitment to developing local producers and enterprises.
