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Namsov goes horse mackerel canning route

Namsov’s evolutionary approach to canning initiatives directed toward horse mackerel

Namsov’s evolutionary approach to canning initiatives directed toward horse mackerel

In an effort to heed the call of the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Hon. Bernard Esau, Namsov embarked on a journey to transform the horse mackerel industry. The chartering of the Atlantic Challenge and a value to the tune of N$13 million and four months later, Namsov was able to launch its range of canned horse mackerel products.
The products come in two distinctive Namibian flavours, leaving consumers the choice to choose between a delectable Sweet Chilli and Tomato Sauce. Namsov has upped the ante and will go beyond the call made by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and has in addition to the canned products added a 1.6 kilogram frozen box of Horse Mackerel.
This according to Namsov will complement the directive of the fisheries ministry and supports the Growth at Home strategy of Government. The frozen Namsov Horse Mackerel for households will be sold through the retail outlets and caters to the busy household so the product comes prepared, fresh and ready to cook.

Namsov has undertaken further experiments to ensure that the quality of the fish is preserved while caught by Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) Trawlers and brought onshore for processing and value addition. A small value addition facility has been established where Namsov employ 26 Namibians while the feasibility study on Value Addition is being completed for year end 2014 to warrant the possible N$500 million facility investment Namsov intends to undertake subject to the outcome of the feasibility study and approval of the shareholders. According to this plan Namsov’s current fleet of mid-water factory vessels will be replaced by RSW Trawlers. The unprocessed fish will be brought to shore and processed in a factory to be constructed alongside the existing United Fishing cannery. This challenging but wonderful vision will enable Namsov to undertake value adding initiatives such as canning, smaller retail packaging, gutting, de-boning, filleting, breading, curing, smoking, salting and drying production.
In the canning industry Namsov Fishing Enterprises is the only producer of canned sardines for the Namibian market, using locally caught fish. United Fishing Enterprises is active in the inshore small pelagic fishing industry with canning, fishmeal and fish oil processing facilities. Under the well-known and established Ocean Fresh and Ekunde labels Namsov produces canned pilchards and Horse Mackerel in beans which is fully owned by this proudly Namibian producer. Namsov is currently concluding the testing with the National Standards Institute and the product will short be available shortly in the major retail outlets and through its Fish Distribution project. “A journey of a thousand steps starts with one step. To date, we have had a few, some forward and some back. What makes Namsov proud is the effort, the empowerment and the ethics employed to sustainably provide a return on investment to all stakeholders involved, including the Government of the Republic of Namibia. Namsov’s commitment as a majority owned Namibian company to Namibia is multi-faceted dynamic and unwavering, despite challenges along the way,” Namsov said.
“Namsov continues to ensure that it does its best with the national resource allocated by government to ensure that the value of the Horse Mackerel we harvest benefits Namibia in a true, sustained and empowered manner,” they added.

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