Uirab and Smith to serve as National Planning Commissioners

Namport’s Chief Executive Officer, Bisey Uirab and Chairman of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group’s (WBCG) Board, along with WBCG’s Chief Executive Officer, Johny Smith, were recently inaugurated as National Planning Commission Commissioners.

Appointed by President Hage Geingob and introduced by the Minister of Economic Planning and Director General of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Hon. Tom Alweendo, the 17 new Planning Commissioners will spearhead the social and economic development of Namibia for a three-year term.

Uirab joins Smith, who is serving his second term as a NPC Commissioner. “Drawn from different backgrounds to address a wide variety of national planning concerns, the composition of the Commissioners is moulded to reach the objectives as stipulated in the Act,” said Smith.

The team is tasked to spearhead the identification of Namibia’s socio-economic development priorities; formulate short-term, medium-term and long-term national development plans in concert with regional councils and to create a monitoring and evaluation performance to assure the effective enforcement of the national development plans.

Additionally, the commission passes judgement on the effectiveness of government socio-economic policies, organises the development plans to ensure consistency, mobilise, manage and coordinate international development cooperation.

Smith outlined the importance of WBCG’s involvement as an NPC Commissioner to ensure a long-term view in the country’s plan concerning transport and logistics.

“As we strive to continually grow the country’s socio-economic agenda, it is important that we make sure transport and logistics remain a part of this agenda,” he added.