Khorixas business community meets

The first Local Economic Development Forum was held in Khorixas on 17 September at the Khorixas Town Hall.

The Khorixas Town Council and Kunene Regional Council brought about the idea of the forum to drive socio -economic activities with the aim to improve the quality of lives of the region’s residents.
CEO of the Khorixas Town Council, Nicodemus #Gaeseb, conference patron, Bisey /Uirab and Chief Executive Officer of the Namibian Ports Authority, saw a large number of participants mostly local and other business personalities from across the country as well as learners from local schools and members of the community who actively engaged in the economic dialogue platform to unlock and accelerate investment & development opportunities in Khorixas and the surrounding areas.
The forum’s Patron Mr. /Uirab, in his key note address expressed that the platform was indeed fertile ground to discuss economic development initiatives for the towns and villages in the Kunene Region.
He highlighted how Khorixas is strategically located saying it could derive benefits from the development of a new transport corridor along the west coast of Namibia, Linking the Port of Walvis Bay to the northern Namibian Border via Uis & Kamanjab. The ports in Namibia connect the country and markets in the SADC Region through major transport corridors – the Trans Kalahari, Trans- Cunene, Ndola Lubumbashi Corridor and Trans-Oranje.
Uirab therefore urged the local communities as well as the business fraternity, and all investors to now position themselves to be ready to offer products and services beyond expectation along the new western corridor.
Chairman of the Kunene Regional Council, Honorable Dudu Murorua welcomed the initiative, advising locals to embrace such platforms for the development of the local economies. He strongly advocated that Government and key stakeholders redesign the new road connection from the Port of Walvis Bay to the Northern border of Namibia so that it passes through the town of Khorixas, and not along the current road which is 8 km from the town.
He added that although there is a great need for technical and vocational training institutions in Khorixas to equip the youth with the developmental skills to improve productivity, the youth and young Namibians should take education seriously.
Various speakers gave presentations on key development initiatives and potential business opportunities for the region and the town of Khorixas in particular.
Stubenrauch Planning Consultants presented the town’s developmental plan for 2030 which highlighted among others, the development of residential and industrial infrastructure and opportunities for increasing tourism activities.