Usakos has taken a major step towards transforming its local economy with the official opening of a N$12.65 million Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Business Park, an investment expected to create opportunities for entrepreneurs, stimulate job creation and position the town as a growing centre of business activity in the Erongo Region.
Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, officially inaugurated the facility on Thursday, 12 November, commending QKR Namibia’s Navachab Gold Mine and the Usakos Town Council for turning a shared development vision into reality.
Situated on land allocated by TransNamib, next to the historic steam locomotive and opposite the Engen One Stop, the SME Park is strategically positioned along one of the region’s important transport corridors.
The development, sponsored by Navachab Gold Mine in partnership with the Usakos Town Council, represents a significant investment in local entrepreneurship, with dedicated business premises intended to accommodate enterprises in retail, trade, services, light manufacturing and logistics.
Speaking at the inauguration, Amutse said young people should be able to build their futures in towns such as Usakos rather than having to leave their communities in search of employment and business opportunities.
He said the country’s economic transformation must begin at local level, where small businesses have the potential to create employment, generate household income and contribute to national development.
“Our shared responsibility is to help those ambitions develop into businesses that can support families and employ others,” he said.
The minister said the project supports Government’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), the Industrial Policy and the Growth at Home strategy, which place emphasis on economic diversification, local production, value addition and employment creation.
He called on the Usakos Town Council to maintain the public asset, manage it fairly and assist business owners in connecting with financial institutions, training providers and potential customers.
He challenged entrepreneurs to move beyond basic trading activities and explore opportunities in manufacturing, processing, repairs and supplying goods and services to larger industries.
Navachab Gold Mine Managing Director George Botshiwe described the inauguration as an important milestone in the partnership between the mine, the Usakos Town Council, Government and the local community.
He said consultations with the town council and residents had identified the need for a dedicated facility where local entrepreneurs could establish, grow and sustain their businesses.
Botshiwe emphasised that the project was not simply an investment in infrastructure, but an investment in people and the future of Usakos.
“Navachab can build the infrastructure. We can help create the opportunity. But it is the people of Usakos who must turn that opportunity into lasting success,” he said.
He urged beneficiaries to take ownership of the facility, protect and maintain it, and use the business units to their full potential.
He said some residents had already benefited from employment during the construction phase, while others would now have the opportunity to establish businesses, create jobs and contribute directly to the local economy.
Botshiwe also recognised the professionals, particularly women who occupied leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated fields, as well as the contractors, consultants and other stakeholders who helped bring the project to completion.
The location of the SME Park is expected to offer local businesses access to economic opportunities generated by the steady movement of travellers, transport operators and commercial activity through the town.
Residents were also encouraged to support local enterprises by giving locally produced goods and services a fair opportunity.
The inauguration marks an important milestone in Navachab’s community development partnership with Usakos, demonstrating how private-sector investment can complement Government’s efforts to promote local economic development.
For Usakos, the challenge now is to transform the N$12.65 million investment into thriving businesses, sustainable employment and long-term economic opportunities.
The message from the inauguration was clear: the infrastructure has been provided, the opportunity has been created, and the responsibility now rests with the community and its entrepreneurs to make the park a success. Photo contributed.
By Rudi Bowe
