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Service providers commit to Windhoek water conference

The 9th International Water Association (IWA) Conference on Water Reclamation starts in Windhoek next weekend. This conference brings together experts of water recycling from across the world. Windhoek with it proven capacity in water recycling is regarded as a world authority on reclamation.
The conference runs from 27 to 31 October at the Safari Hotel. Water experts come from as far as the USA, Europe, South America, Japan, China, Singapore, Australia, Mexico and South Africa to Windhoek.
The chairman of the organizing committee Piet du Pisani said: “Preparations are going as planned and we are engaging local services providers to make this event a success.”
“All goods and services are sourced locally, this is a great opportunity not only to showcase Namibia’s technical ability in Water Re-use but also its capability to host events.”
Each delegate receives a conference bag and lanyards that are 100% Namibian. Through Sphere Namibia, a local provider of events accessories, groups in Katutura were tasked to produce 450 conference bags for the IWA conference.
Du Pisani said “Although these products are substantially more expensive than imported Nylon bags and lanyards, which conference goers normally leave in their hotel rooms, these items are of high quality and appeal. The organising committee wanted to give the delegates something to remember Namibia by.”  The Omba Arts Trust that works with rural communities has provided 450 conference lanyards made from ostrich egg shells, a unique Namibian design produced by San communities in the Omaheke region. “Creating income for remote communities is every citizen’s responsibility,” said Omba Arts Trust Managing Director Karin Le Roux. “Omba Arts Trust has created a product range for the local conference scene and the corporate market to diversify the sources of income of craft producers who usually rely exclusively on tourism.  According to IWA conference organiser Marelise Serfontein of Conference Link it is important that Namibians stop using imported goods and services when there are so many local service providers who can deliver quality products on time. “Namibia must feed back into its own economy so that smaller businesses can grow.”

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