15 April 2008
Windhoek — A Delegation of German building contractors arrived in Namibia last week to establish business relations with their Namibian counterparts and to discuss training for small contractors and possibly joint ventures.
The visit was organised by the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIFN) and followed a co-operation agreement signed two years ago between CIFN and the German Association of Contractors.
Former Deputy Works and Transport Deputy Minister Steve Mogotsi accompanied CFIN members to Germany then. The cooperation initiative is supported by the German Technical Cooperation agency GTZ. "The one-week visit includes a workshop with local builders, visits to construction sites in Windhoek, Okahandja, Karibib and at the coast," said Malte Beierdoerffer, advisor for small business promotion at the CFIN. "We will also discuss capacity building and training for especially small entrepreneurs in the building industry," Beierdoerffer added.
The delegation was welcomed by Works and Transport Minister Joel Kaapanda as his last public duty in that portfolio on Monday. Kaapanda was shifted to the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology last Tuesday. "Germany is a country known for its perfection in every sector and we can learn from that," Kaapanda said. "It would be appreciated if our visitors could look into training so that our previously disadvantaged builders can learn how to run a construction company.
We want our people to take over this industry, since large building projects are dominated by companies from outside Namibia."
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