Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) has unveiled an N$36 million state-of-the-art Inspection Centre which provides for adequate space to conduct frozen and chilled fish inspections, as it is equipped with both sensory laboratory, and cans inspection laboratory.
Unveiling the factory, Minister if Industrialisation and Trade, Lucia Iipumbu highlighted that adequate space means the inspectorate can process a much more diverse product range and process an increased quantity of products, thus allowing the NSI to move beyond frozen fish inspection as its central focus.
“Import inspection for especially canned fish and meat, fishery and related products can now be realized which contributes immensely towards food security for the Namibia consumer and it is our wish and hope that more products will be accommodated soon. I am, therefore, delighted to state that the N$36 million that Government expended on this project is money well spent, and will go a long way in serving the country now and in future,” iipumbu said.
Iipumbu also underscored that in addition, the new facility houses a satellite Metrology laboratory that will be operationalised once the necessary equipment has been sourced through the same technical assistance project I mentioned earlier.
“Once this is achieved, businesses in the Erongo region that require measurement services will be serviced for volume and mass metrology services from this metrology laboratory.
“As the Ministry responsible for the implementation of the growth at home strategy, it is pleasing to note that this project involved Namibians from start to finish as it was conceived by Namibians, designed and built by local companies, and now is being operated by Namibians for the good of the Nation,” Iipumbu said.