Logistics a key developmental priority
Investments in logistics have enabled Namibia to position itself as a logistics hub within the Southern Africa Development Community.
• Logan Fransman
The logistics sector is essential for trade, industrialisation, socio-economic development and regional integration, and is therefore seen as a key developmental priority.
The sector has once again been prioritised in the Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5), just like it had been in previous economic development blueprints.
Further highlighting government's acute awareness of how critical the sector is, is its major investments over the past 20 years in transport infrastructure development (roads, rail, maritime ports and aviation). These investments have enabled Namibia to position itself as a logistics hub within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
This is also one of the reasons that the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), together with the Namibia University for Science and Technology (NUST), established the Namibian-German Centre for Logistics (NGCL) as a centre of expertise and excellence in the field of logistics.
Competitiveness
Namibia has been consistently improving its position on the Global Competitiveness Index, moving to 24 out of 138 countries in 2016/17. With investments, increased expertise and the professionalisation of the logistics and transportation sector, the country can improve its competitiveness even further.
This will allow the sector to enhance industrial development and contribute substantially to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
However, this is easier said than done, as the low-hanging fruit and quick wins in the sector have mostly been achieved.
What is now required is a much more holistic and integrated approach to transport planning, the handling of goods, the transportation of people and service provision.
This approach needs to fall within the parameters and the frameworks of the Transport Master Plan and the Master Plan for Developing an International Logistics Hub for SADC Countries in the Republic of Namibia.
This all sounds rather grand, but nevertheless critical, if Namibia is to remain competitive.
This is because the sector remains critical when it comes to improving key economic arteries like agriculture, mining, manufacturing, fisheries, rural and urban development and tourism.
Team work
We therefore need to work together to create a sustainable transport system supporting a world-class logistics hub, connecting SADC to international markets by 2022.
This means tackling some very basic issues that require a great deal of focus and attention, as well as massive continued investment - something that will be a real challenge in the present economic climate pervading Namibia.
Access to financial resources remains a problem, and impacts the transport and logistics sector, as it does a range of others.
This causes delays and inadequate funding for the development of transport infrastructure, inadequate skills and an imbalance between the development and preservation of infrastructure.
Knowledge transference and the development of technical skills that is taking place at NGCL and NUST must be complemented by private and public enterprises opening their doors to allow new transport and logistics graduates to learn and flourish within this exciting and growing sector.
Without these opportunities the growth, development and ultimately the sustainability of the sector will suffer.
If these challenges are met head-on and invested in, we can be sure that by 2022 Namibia will have safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable transport infrastructure - a world-class logistic hub connecting SADC to international markets.
The sector will truly be the envy of the region and the engine of our economy.
One final thought with regards to transport and logistics in this country is the pledge by government to reduce the number of deaths on our roads. As we know, it is pure carnage on our very empty roads and the statistics don't lie. Should we want to be the logistics hub of SADC, it will need to start with road safety at its very core. Without this, everything else we try to do will be in vain.
The logistics sector is essential for trade, industrialisation, socio-economic development and regional integration, and is therefore seen as a key developmental priority.
The sector has once again been prioritised in the Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5), just like it had been in previous economic development blueprints.
Further highlighting government's acute awareness of how critical the sector is, is its major investments over the past 20 years in transport infrastructure development (roads, rail, maritime ports and aviation). These investments have enabled Namibia to position itself as a logistics hub within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
This is also one of the reasons that the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), together with the Namibia University for Science and Technology (NUST), established the Namibian-German Centre for Logistics (NGCL) as a centre of expertise and excellence in the field of logistics.
Competitiveness
Namibia has been consistently improving its position on the Global Competitiveness Index, moving to 24 out of 138 countries in 2016/17. With investments, increased expertise and the professionalisation of the logistics and transportation sector, the country can improve its competitiveness even further.
This will allow the sector to enhance industrial development and contribute substantially to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
However, this is easier said than done, as the low-hanging fruit and quick wins in the sector have mostly been achieved.
What is now required is a much more holistic and integrated approach to transport planning, the handling of goods, the transportation of people and service provision.
This approach needs to fall within the parameters and the frameworks of the Transport Master Plan and the Master Plan for Developing an International Logistics Hub for SADC Countries in the Republic of Namibia.
This all sounds rather grand, but nevertheless critical, if Namibia is to remain competitive.
This is because the sector remains critical when it comes to improving key economic arteries like agriculture, mining, manufacturing, fisheries, rural and urban development and tourism.
Team work
We therefore need to work together to create a sustainable transport system supporting a world-class logistics hub, connecting SADC to international markets by 2022.
This means tackling some very basic issues that require a great deal of focus and attention, as well as massive continued investment - something that will be a real challenge in the present economic climate pervading Namibia.
Access to financial resources remains a problem, and impacts the transport and logistics sector, as it does a range of others.
This causes delays and inadequate funding for the development of transport infrastructure, inadequate skills and an imbalance between the development and preservation of infrastructure.
Knowledge transference and the development of technical skills that is taking place at NGCL and NUST must be complemented by private and public enterprises opening their doors to allow new transport and logistics graduates to learn and flourish within this exciting and growing sector.
Without these opportunities the growth, development and ultimately the sustainability of the sector will suffer.
If these challenges are met head-on and invested in, we can be sure that by 2022 Namibia will have safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable transport infrastructure - a world-class logistic hub connecting SADC to international markets.
The sector will truly be the envy of the region and the engine of our economy.
One final thought with regards to transport and logistics in this country is the pledge by government to reduce the number of deaths on our roads. As we know, it is pure carnage on our very empty roads and the statistics don't lie. Should we want to be the logistics hub of SADC, it will need to start with road safety at its very core. Without this, everything else we try to do will be in vain.
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