Take the lead, Gertze urges

The governor of the //Kharas Region, Gaob Dawid Gertze, calls for local services and businesses to be fully integrated into the new value chains developing across the region.


“Opportunities from port expansions and energy developments to housing, logistics, and tourism in //Kharas are both real and transformative. One principle is non-negotiable: Namibian companies must be at the heart of these developments,” Gertze emphasised during his keynote address at the opening of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Infrastructure Development Forum, hosted at the Lüderitz Old Power Station on Tuesday.


Close to 100 delegates from the construction and supply industries are attending the three-day event, themed “A Strategic Look at the Infrastructure Pipeline Opportunities in Lüderitz and the //Kharas Region.” Gertze stressed that while healthy competition is essential for driving quality, innovation, and value, transparent and equitable systems are needed to ensure local contractors are included by design, not by chance. “Local businesses cannot be mere spectators. They must be active participants, forging partnerships and reaping the benefits of these historic opportunities. This requires deliberate pathways for local contractors and suppliers, fostering joint ventures and subcontracting arrangements that transfer skills and build lasting capacity.”


Balance needed - He added that a careful balance is needed between championing local participation and upholding fair and open competition. “Namibia is unequivocally open for business and investment. Protectionism is not our path; however, our approach must be balanced and strategic. To achieve this, we need robust structures,” Gertze said. The governor also endorsed CIF’s call for the establishment of a Construction Council for Namibia, describing it as critically important for the region. “Such a body would register and grade companies, align project scope with contractor capacity, support training and business development, and provide a comprehensive overview of our entire industry.”


Gertze further paid tribute to Fluksman Samuehl, CEO of the Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company (LWDC), and his team, as well as the CIF. “For over twelve years, the LWDC has demonstrated foresight, facilitating around N$500 million in local infrastructure investments long before oil, gas, and green hydrogen became a national conversation. Their leadership continues with N$20 million in new projects currently underway,” he said. He hailed CIF as the driving force behind the forum. “This event unites stakeholders, fosters solutions, and champions inclusive participation. Their leadership has transformed what started as an idea into a national event, and for that, they deserve our appreciation.”