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Solid business ideas originate from Ongwediva conference

Ottilie Shalemo (centre) won a N$5000 cash prize and a laptop with internet for submitting the best business idea in the Business Idea competition announced by the Economist Businesswomen Club at the Businesswomen Conference in Ongwediva in August. Joining her to celebrate her good ideas are, on the left, Hasekiel Johannes, Innovation Marketplace Officer at the Namibia Business Innovation Institute, Mally Likukela, Manager: Economic and Market Research at Standard Bank Namibia, and on the right, Oiva Angula, Senior Manager: Corporate Communication at Telecom Namibia and Desere Lundon-Muller, the Chairperson of the Economist Businesswomen Club. (Photograph by Mandisa Rasmeni)

Ottilie Shalemo (centre) won a N$5000 cash prize and a laptop with internet for submitting the best business idea in the Business Idea competition announced by the Economist Businesswomen Club at the Businesswomen Conference in Ongwediva in August. Joining her to celebrate her good ideas are, on the left, Hasekiel Johannes, Innovation Marketplace Officer at the Namibia Business Innovation Institute, Mally Likukela, Manager: Economic and Market Research at Standard Bank Namibia, and on the right, Oiva Angula, Senior Manager: Corporate Communication at Telecom Namibia and Desere Lundon-Muller, the Chairperson of the Economist Businesswomen Club. (Photograph by Mandisa Rasmeni)

The winner of the Best Business Idea competition run by the Economist Businesswomen Club after their Businesswomen Conference in Ongwediva, was announced this week. Ottilie Williams submitted an idea for the processing and spinning of wool and cotton into so-called soft silk yarn, widely used in households to knit jerseys.
 The Club’s partners and sponsors, Telecom Namibia, Standard Bank Namibia and the Namibia Business Innovation Institute, came together this week to present Mrs Shalemo with her cash prize of N$5000 and a laptop with the Microsoft Office suite and an internet connection included.
Mrs Shalemo is the owner of Selmos Trading CC and was a delegate at the Businesswomen Conference in the North in August this year.
Mr Mally Likukela, Manager, Economic and Market Research at Standard Bank said it is heartening to know that the Economist Businesswomen Club through its various projects provides opportunities for Namibian women to empower themselves.
“Therefore, because of this, Standard Bank this year contributed N$55,000 to the 2014 Economist Businesswomen Northern Conference.” he said.
 N$5000 of the money was allocated as prize money and start-up capital for the Best Business Idea Competition. “We are glad to be associated with such a worthy cause that leads to the enhancement of women in our communities,” said Likukela adding that Standard Bank firmly believes that through this initiative, they contribute positively towards a better life for women in promoting women entrepreneurs. He congratulated Mrs Shalemo wishing her all the best in her future endeavours.
Mr Oiva Angula, Senior Manager of Corporate Communication, Telecom Namibia, who handed over the laptop with the Microsoft Office suite and internet urged both the private and public sectors to work together to enable local small businessed to grow. “This is why Telecom believes in the potential of Namibian women and girls.

With the right networking, exposure, mentorship and guidance they can develop their ideas and create a great long-lasting contribution to society” he said. Mr Hasekiel Johannes, Innovation Marketplace Officer at the Namibia Business Innovation Institute, who was one of the judges of the competition, said they evaluated the entries on how well the idea was described, the motivation behind the idea, the usefulness of the idea, its viability, the innovativeness behind the idea and its growth and potential.
The Institute will also assist Mrs Shalemo with a formal business plan that can be presented to a financial institution for funding.
Ms Desere Lundon-Muller, the Chairperson of the Economist Businesswomen Club said that the conference was a resounding success with138 delegates attending.
This is the third Best Business Idea Competition and the combined value of the prizes is N$25,000.
The Economist Businesswomen Club in association with Sara Elago, the Patron of the Conference and Businesswomen of the Year 1999, hosted the fifteenth conference on 7 August 2014 in Ongwediva for the women in the north.

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