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Namibia: Namwater for Spanish Water Expo
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New Era (Windhoek)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Petronella Sibeene
Windhoek
NamWater together with stakeholders have set aside N$5.3 million for the Zaragoza World water Exposition 2008, where the country will showcase to the world its water extraction and preservation methods.
The expo scheduled to take place from June 14 to August 14 in the city of Zaragoza in Spain, will attract 127 countries of which 13 are African States including Namibia.
NamWater Manager for Corporate Communications, Johannes Shigwedha, disclosed yesterday that at the invitation of the Spanish government, Namibia through NamWater together with its stakeholders in this project will spend N$5.3 million with N$1.2 million of this amount covering the S&T budget.
Shigwedha disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has availed N$2.5 million, while the Ministry of Trade and Industry will contribute N$100000. Stakeholders, who comprise companies that will participate in the expo, will cover the rest of the funds.
There are no prizes to be won by participating countries apart from being given a chance to market one's country.
Shigwedha added that the Spanish will cater for accommodation, travel expenses, per diem allowances, visas issuance, uniform and health insurance for Commissioner (Chief Executive Officer of NamWater, Dr Vaino Shivute) and Deputy Commissioner (Welbert Ockhuisen) attending the expo.
"The main objective is to demonstrate to the world how different countries sustain their water resources. We will demonstrate how Namibian people survive and purify water," said Shigwedha when asked what the main objective of the expo was.
Namibia will for the next few weeks work on promotional materials and products to be showcased during the expo.
The country is also expected to have its national day where Namibia will be the focus country for that day.
From Namibia, Shigwedha confirmed that four ministers - he could not name them - will attend the national day. He could also not indicate how many people will make up the Namibian delegation to the event.
According to Shigwedha, on August 26, a cocktail party for 150 Namibian visitors will be held under the theme 'Quenching thirst in the Namibia desert'. This will be an opportunity for self-promotion (as a country), Shigwedha added.
"This is an opportunity for countries to market themselves. We are expected to sell our country, entertain guests to Namibian cuisine, music and culture," he stressed.
Institutions involved in the planning include the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Industry, NamWater, Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), Team Namibia and the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).
The planning that started in June last year also saw the appointment of a German designer to work on the Namibian stand.
Shigwedha explained that NamWater has through the NTB appointed an assistant to the German designer to ensure that the stand reflects Namibia.
"Namibia has to send water related materials such as calabashes and pictures for the stand. We also have to organise promotional products for exhibition and also organise artists to perform during the week of Namibia National Day," Shigwedha said.
The Zaragoza World Water Exposition 2008 will be held under the theme, "Water and Sustainable Development". Participating countries will, however, have their own themes demonstrating their ways of sustaining this natural resource from traditional to modern methods.
NamWater sourced from the country's 13 regions, different ways in which the Namibian people sustain water.
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It is the first time Namibia will participate in this international event.
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