The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and indigenous industry player Antila Consultancy will co-host the Namibian Local Content Conference (NLCC) 2024. Under the theme “Empowering Namibia’s Energy Ambitions by Connecting Industry and Indigenous Talent,” this inaugural conference is slated to take place from 16 to 18 April, 2024, in Lüderitz, Namibia.
This pioneering initiative aims to foster local private sector participation in the oil and gas sector in alignment with the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s draft Local Content Policy (LCP). The LCP has a focus on facilitating local capacity-building initiatives for sustainable economic growth and development.
According to the Minister of Mines and Energy, Hon. Tom Alweendo, “Local content policies are regulations and guidelines devised by the government to ensure that developments in natural resources industries like the oil and gas industry benefit the local economy and population.”
Namibia’s emerging oil and gas sector presents a significant opportunity for economic growth and development. The relative low contribution of local Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to the GDP at 12% in relation to the 40% average of emerging market and developing economies indicates that Namibia has substantial potential to enhance the economic impact of its SME sector. By prioritizing investments in human capital development, fostering technological advancements, and implementing policies that promote local business participation in the industry’s supply chain, Namibia can strategically develop its local oil and gas industry. Countries such as Malaysia, Qatar, and Norway have successfully employed such strategies to maximise benefits from natural resources while bolstering their broader economies, and providing a robust framework for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Achieving this vision in Namibia will require adopting a shared responsibility towards ensuring sustainable development of the sector by collaboration of key stakeholders at platforms such as the NLCC.
The conference in Lüderitz next month will facilitate crucial dialogue between the government, IOCs and international service companies, the private sector, and SMEs. Discussions at the event will advocate for policies that promote local content and ensure broad-based access to opportunities within the oil and gas industry.
The event’s co-hosting partners NCCI and Antila aim to further facilitate networking, knowledge transfer, and connecting local businesses with established industry players in the oil and gas sector beyond the maiden conference. The NCCI continues to support Namibian SMEs through its Enterprise Development Program by offering training and development programs, facilitating access to new technologies and management practices, and promoting funding opportunities to upscale operations and integrate into larger supply chains.
NCCI and Antila Consultancy aim to disseminate essential information to the local populace and the nation at large and are hereby inviting their active participation in Namibia’s burgeoning Oil and Gas industry. The co-hosts of this upcoming event in Luderitz urge government and private sector leaders and international oil companies to join in a partnership that endorses the participation in the Namibian Local Content Conference (NLCC) taking place from April 16 to 18, 2024, in Lüderitz, Namibia.