Potentially, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) will soon be able establish and grow businesses in the fish retailing industry.
This is a result of the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust’s (NFCPT) August partnership with the Namibia University of Science and Technology’s Business Innovation Institute, (NBII), to help with the implementation and conduct of a project to increase the redistribution sector of fish through SMEs.
This information was shared with media at Walvis Bay’s NFCPT office on Friday.
The project is valued at N$807200 and is entitled ‘Identifying innovative distribution agencies for Namibia Fish Consumption Trust’. It aims to recruit, train and hire potential business start ups and established SMEs in order to establish and grow fish retail stores.
Through partnerships with potential agents, the project will increase access to fish for the Namibian people. Fish will be made available in areas where the NFCPT doesn’t have shops.
Through NBII-trained trainers, participants will also be able gain knowledge in business administration.
Victor Pea, chief executive officer of NFCPT, stated that “we are eager to contribute meaningfully the creation and strengthening the local economy by encouraging Namibians (especially the youth and women) to take up opportunities to grow the local economic using our natural resources like fish.”
The project will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will focus on empowering potential start-ups and SMEs. The pilot phase will last 17 months.
Training will be held at Ruacana (Helao Nafidi), Oshana (Divundu), Epukiro and Okahandja on various dates between 11 and 16 November.
Prospective applicants will receive free training and public notices in the print media this week.
The training sessions will last two days and each centre can only accommodate 30 participants. You are encouraged to apply for youth- and women-led business start ups, SMEs, as well as other retailers.
The second phase provides additional mentorship and capacity building to applicants who submit viable business proposals for distribution agents.
The purpose of the training is to ensure business continuity and sustainability for their respective businesses after one year of operations.
The NFCPT currently operates 18 fish shops in 17 towns that cover all 14 regions of Namibia.
Source: namibian
