Irene !hoaës
3 October 2008
Windhoek — Namib Mills shifted Namibia's manufacturing sector a mile further with the launch of its new pasta brand, Pasta La Vita.
The company is among the few that produce locally manufactured pasta products that have become household names.
In 2001, it introduced the locally manufactured, Pasta Polana, which is a big favourite in many Namibian households since it first came on shop shelves.
Although, Pasta La Vita was on the shelves for a while, it was never officially launched until last Wednesday.
Pasta La Vita targets the upper classes of the society, while Pasta Polana targets both low and middle-income groups.
Pasta La Vita is made from imported durum wheat flour, while Pasta Polana is made from a mixture of imported durum wheat, and flour from local production.
Namib Mills has for a number of years operated within the policy of infant industry protection, to which its success could also be attributed.
"We would like to see more local companies playing such a role in the process of industrialisation of our economy," said John Mutorwa, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry at the launch.
Mutorwa said the promotion of foreign investment should go hand-in-hand with increased efforts to encourage the growth of home-growth companies and industries.
"I am indeed pleased to see that the strategies and policies of Government are indeed benefiting the manufacturing industry," Mutorwa added.
Many Namibian manufactured goods do not last very long on the market, due to unfamiliarity and little trust for new products or perhaps quality that is not up to standard.
Mutorwa also highlighted the importance of human development in positively contributing to national and economic development.
The minister said before people can be empowered, human development such as education and training should be enhanced, as it would enable people to understand how to transform natural resources at their disposal for their benefit.
Mutorwa also encouraged Namibians to make use of available land in their backyards to put up gardens, so as to ensure food security and cut costs.
"What Namib Mills has done over the years, through increasing its basket of food products, produced in Namibia, is in itself a milestone towards contributing to Namibia's food self-sufficiency," Mutorwa lauded the company.
Namib Mills produces other products such as Top Score, Bakpro and Meme Mahangu.
In order to secure food security, the Government has constructed several silos at Katima Mulilo and Rundu. The construction of other silos is in progress at Omuthiya, Okongo and Tsandi.
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