Development Bank supports Omboga spinach soup

The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has celebrated its support of the 2018 Innovation Award winner, VNA Foods, at the launch of the fledgling food company’s production facility in Windhoek. VNA won the Innovation Award with a proposal to manufacture a packet soup, called ‘Omboga’, from spinach.DBN provided an extensive range of support activities which included recipe development, testing and refinement, as well as barcode acquisition, to enable the company to gain shelf space in local shops.VNA also received grant funding which enabled them to begin operations.“The bank views innovation as a set of transformative activities which can take place in various sectors. The impact of innovation is that Namibia will become less dependent on imports and potentially create a basis for export trade,” said the DBN’s head of business strategy, Heike Scholtz.She pointed to the use of local resources, developing efficiency and economies of scale as particularly important in making Namibia more competitive.The product will improve self-sufficiency as well as food security in Namibia, Scholtz said.VNA’s ability to source its raw materials locally strengthens agricultural livelihoods and adds to the growing ecosystem of agri-enterprises. VNA is led by young entrepreneurs. DBN attaches high importance to supporting and financing young entrepreneurs as a resource for the future economy.Scholtz urged local distributors and retailers to add the product to their selection, saying that the wholesale and retail sector can only become fully sustainable if it incorporates Namibian products in its offerings.“The company has identified the commercial value of Namibian cuisine. VNA will embark in a contract harvesting and supply programme with local Namibians and will focus on growing its product line in the short term” Valde Leonard said.

Development Bank supports Omboga spinach soup

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Republikein 2025-06-18

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Development Bank supports Omboga spinach soup

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Republikein 2025-06-18

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