Million dollar project at advanced stage

The transfer of land by the Walvis Bay municipality to the Namibia Angola Housing Initiative (NAAHI) for the development of the N$500 million Walvis Bay International Industrial Park, is said to be at an advanced stage.
According to Jose Oliviera of NAAHI, progress has been made in the transfer of the 850 hectares of land on Farm 58 of the initially needed over 1000 hectares of land.
The land transfer process began earlier this year after NAAHI submitted an application for the transfer of land to the Cabinet Committee on Trade and Economic Development.
The initiative is a tri-partnership between NamPort, the Walvis Bay municipality and NAAHI. The partnership came into effect this year after NamPort and NAAHI signed an agreement to develop the park in Walvis Bay.
Oliviera said that the first phase of the park will include the construction of an inland terminal that will aim to de-congest the harbour and container intake.
Construction work will also include the development of a 11 kilometre road link and 11 kilometre rail link.
The first phase is estimated to take up to18 months to complete.
Completion of the Walvis Bay International Industrial Park will be followed by the development   of the Walvis Bay Industrial Park.
“The two parks are part of a private sector driven initiative led by NAAHI to create a logistics centre of excellence for the SADC region and forms part of the first of four major logistics hubs that are set to add impetus to the NAAHI project and to government’s national priorities,” said Hilma Hitula, director of NAAHI.
The Walvis Bay International Logistics Park and Walvis Bay Industrial Park are part of a private sector driven initiative led by NAAHI that aims to create a logistics centre of excellence for the SADC region. The project is expected to create 11 000 jobs.