Namibian government asked to buy local

The Namibian government is considering changing its procurement system to make it easier for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to win contracts.

Chief Executive of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tarah Shaanika, said that is is important that the government place a greater emphasis on procuring locally.

“The government should be prepared to pay high prices to propel local industries and strengthen domestic businesses,” Shaanika said.

Shaanika was responding to comments made by deputy minister of finance Calle Schlettwein at the fifth Commonwealth Public Procurement Network technical conference, where he said the government was reviewing its procurement legislation to find the right balance between value for money and “equitable distribution of business opportunities”.

The government acknowledged that the current setup was “highly unfriendly” towards SMEs, Schlettwein added, meaning they were “by and large excluded”.

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