Following the Indian government's proposal last year to establish an entrepreneurship development institute in the country, it is still waiting for its Namibian counterparts to approve the proposal.

One year down the line, Cabinet is yet to deliberate on whether to approve the proposal or not.

The proposal was made in May last year at the second Indo-African Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopa.

The country's two top institutions, University of Namibia (Unam) and the Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN), have both introduced entrepreneurship courses.

Ministry of Trade and Industry Director for Administration, Munu Kuyonisa, who is handling the proposal, acknowledged that government received the proposal.

"Although we have completed the draft that will be submitted to Cabinet, we are yet to table the request in parliament because it still needs to be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Commission for comments," he said.

Kuyonisa refused to divulge further information and directed this reporter to the ministry's permanent secretary.

Lal Kanhayia from the Indian Embassy in Namibia who spoke to New Era also confirmed that there are plans in the pipeline to construct the institute, but their hands are tied, pending Cabinet's approval.

"At the moment I cannot say anything, you just have to speak to the officials from the ministry in this regard," said Kanhayia.

At this stage, information about the cost, location and operations of the envisaged institute remain undisclosed.

Namibian bureaucracy has long been an issue with local and foreign investors and the snail's pace at which decisions are taken has the potential to scare off developers.

With developing African states scrambling for the same resources provided by developed countries, Namibians will regret losing the envisaged development to fellow emerging democracies with more efficient bureaucracies.

Foreign investors often lack patience and with entrepreneurship high on government's agenda, the Namibian business sector will be dealt a major blow if the deal is not secured.

India is one of many countries keen on boosting bilateral trade with African countries, but African governance structures and bureaucratic systems remain big obstacles.

According to information derived from the official website of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) of India, "the institution (EDI) has been spearheading entrepreneurship throughout the nation with the belief that entrepreneurs need not necessarily be born, but can be developed through well-conceived and well-directed activities".

Further information on its website also indicate that the institution is committed to entrepreneurship education, training and research and it strives to provide innovative training techniques, competent faculty support, consultancy and quality teaching and training material.

When New Era called the Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary, Dr Malan Lindeque, for comment, his secretary told this reporter he was out of office.

When he was called for comment on his mobile phone, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Tjekero Tweya said he was attending a meeting.