Industrialisation and trade minister Lucia Iipumbu and president and chief executive of the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) Travis Adkins will launch the Market Access Support Programme (Masp) in Windhoek tomorrow.
According to a recent statement from the ministry’s spokesperson, Elijah Mukubonda, the launch is aimed at creating awareness of the Masp and to officially recognise the first awards of the programme’s beneficiaries.
The statement noted that the ministry and the Foundation signed an agreement on 14 December 2022 at the US-Africa Leader’s Summit in Washington DC.
“The agreement encourages manufacturing and value addition while promoting the growth of agricultural cooperatives, producer associations and small and medium-sized businesses in Namibia,” said Mukubonda.
When the agreement was signed, Namibian cooperatives, producer groups and micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) were invited to present proposals for grant financing to a maximum of US$250 000 (approximately N$4,5 million).
They will also get support for innovative solutions that extend their own capabilities to increase food security, add value to local products, increase revenue, create jobs, improve incomes and achieve sustainable market-based growth.
The proposals were for the following value chain sectors: grain and livestock production, horticulture and agro-processing.
Proposals were also accepted from MSMEs working in woodworking, garment production, metal fabrication, cosmetics, detergents and digital services.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na
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