BIPA has reached out to local entrepreneurs by disseminating vital information on business registrations and intellectual property on Monday.
This was in line with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa)’s drive to improve their stakeholder communication. They reached out to entrepreneurs at an open day at their head office in Windhoek.
The aim of the event was to ensure two-way communication between Bipa staff and stakeholders, while creating appropriate platforms for open discussions about topics affecting stakeholders.
The event was also to circulate relevant information on business registrations and intellectual property through training and awareness; and to support Namibian entrepreneurs by offering free training on how to start a business, and how to protect their business ideas through the use of intellectual property (IP).
The authority’s acting chief executive officer, Vivienne Katjiuongua, said a great deal of Bipa’s success is dependent on wide-ranging stakeholder engagement, exhaustive consumer education, and high levels of awareness creation.
“To this effect, Bipa this year adopted its first-ever comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategy. The open day is the first project within the strategy, and aims to create a platform to engage with our stakeholders in an open, willing and transparent manner,” she noted.
The event consisted of two sessions – the first was focused on disseminating information on how IP contributes to the economy, as well as how to do business in Namibia.
The second session was targeted at entrepreneurs, people interested in starting a business, and innovators and artists who required more information on how to start a business, and how to protect their business ideas.
“We are exceptionally satisfied at the turnout to our first open day, especially with regards to the full house we had with our training session for entrepreneurs. We once again realised that there is a definite need for empowering our future businessmen and women,” Katjiuongua added.
The authority plans to do similar training in other regions within the near future.
– charmaine@namibian.com.na; Twitter: Char_Ngatjiheue.
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