Windhoek — THE Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the First National Bank Namibia will be launching the Oshana Business Forum at a gala dinner this coming Friday, said NCCI Chief Executive Tarah Shaanika.

The official launch will be held at the Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre, on Friday evening, Shaanika said.

The NCCI/FNB Business Forum Launch is undertaking to establish regional business forums, and the Oshana Business Forum will be the second to be launched after Ohangwena, which was launched on March 19 2007.

"The forums' focus is to create an open platform where the local business community and the regional/local government can meet to discuss the challenges facing the business people, with an emphasis on improving the business environment," said Shaanika According to Shaanika, there will be presentations on the development budget as well as the tendering processes, by experts from First National Bank and the Namibia Tender Board.

This approach, Shaanika said, is aimed at providing as much information as possible to local businesses to help them take advantage of opportunities in projects outlined in the development budget, as well as how to go about the tender processes.

Shaanika said the Governor of the Oshana Region, Clemens Kashuupulwa, will deliver the keynote address, while members of the Chamber's board of directors will also be attending the event.