Fish trust HQ opens in Walvis
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resource, Hon Bernhard Esau (middle) with NFCPT Board members, from left, Matheus Amadhila (Deputy Chairman), Steven Ambabi, Tobie Aupindi (Chairman) and Katrina Sikeni.
The move from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay brought the trust closer to the fishing industry, especially to the main cold storage facility from where the fish is distributed to the rest of the country .
“Our new head office building and new fish shop has quickly become a point of pride among NFCPT staff. We anticipate smoother operations, faster delivery and the capacity to take on a few more projects going forward. [The trust] will continue to carry out its mandate by making fish available at an affordable price to all parts of the country” said Mrs. Albertina Ngurare, CEO of the trust.
Minister Esau, was overwhelmed by the activities of the trust and said “It is with the utmost pride that we celebrate yet another major milestone of the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust. The ministry is elated at the passion with which all NFCPT activities are executed. All employees serve to fulfill the trust’s mandate, which is to promote fish consumption.”
The new facility includes the head office building with 13 offices, a boardroom as well as a big garden and reception area. A new cold room, three garages for office vehicles, a big garage for trucks, an ablution facility for staff, a maintenance office and a new fish shop, have also been added.
The fish shop sells a selection of species, not only horse mackerel as was the case when the trust focused only on this low-value species.
The expansion cost more than N$12 million.
The NFCPT has managed to make fish more accessible in all corners of the country with 105 staff members in total and 6 trucks to transport the fish. The trust currently runs 13 shops in 9 regions; operating in Swakopmund, Gobabis, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Rundu, Outapi, Ongwediva, Opuwo, Eenhana, Ondangwa, as well as two shops in Windhoek and the new one in Walvis Bay.
