Government has trained a total of 142 beneficiaries under its Gemstones and Jewellery Development Programme under the Department of Industrial Development through the EMPRETEC Centre.
This was revealed by trade and industrialisation minister, Lucia Iipumbu lat week at graduation ceremony of Gemstones students for the year 2021 and 2022 under the same programme.
“Sadly, more than 90% of the gemstones leave the country in a rough form which means loss of jobs and revenue for local economy. Data has proved that the Namibian Economy depends primarily on the mining sector, therefore since independence Government has deliberately set to incentivize value addition and manufacturing which is a key objective in the Growth at Home Execution Strategy.
“In light of the above, the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade came up with the Gemstones and Jewellery Development Programme under the Department of Industrial Development through the EMPRETEC Centre. This Programme was established for the Namibian people to acquire skills in Gemstones cutting and polishing, a mandate that the Ministry has fulfilled over the years. The training Centers trained a total of 142 Beneficiaries, of which 138 graduates have successfully completed the training Programme. Furthermore, the Centre has facilitated the placement of at least 95% trainees in to the diamond industries,” Iipumbu said.
At the graduation ceremony, the minister handed over graduation certificates to 44 Young Namibians of which 25 or more than half are women.
“I strongly believe that these graduates will utilise the acquired skills to contribute more to the Sector Growth strategy of the Namibian Jewellery Industry and Coloured Gemstone and Associated Value Chains. The Sector Growth Strategy Programme has been part of the ongoing efforts to reinforce Namibia’s economic growth, to reduce income inequality and to increase employment for its citizens. The Sector Growth Strategy forms part of the support to selected manufacturing industries envisaged by the Growth at Home Strategy, which promotes Namibia’s competitive advantages and opportunities,” she said.
She went on to say that the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade in close cooperation with other ministries is thus supporting local value addition, industry upgrading and economic diversification.
“Therefore, it is only through this kind of interventions that we can transform the structure of Namibian economy when we prioritise the most productive and efficient economic activities and local industries, as it provide a well improved market access at home and abroad,” said the minister.