Namibia: Small Firm Secures Big Order
AllAfrica.com
July 28, 2014
Posted to the web July 31, 2014
Windhoek
Feisty entrepreneur, Bernadette Eises, the owner of garment producer Dune Textiles, could not conceal her excitement recently in a meeting at her firm’s premises in Walvis Bay’s high-density suburb of Kuisebmund with SMEs Compete’s representatives. Dune Textiles was working on an order from Namport for corporate wear.
Valued at more than N$22,000 there was promise of a similar sized follow-up order from the parastatal. Eises was adamant that her firm would not only meet but actually exceed Namport’s quality and delivery schedule requirements.
For SMEs Compete, the development was exciting too. Dune Textiles’ order was a culmination of its efforts that facilitates business outsourcing and linkages between corporate firms and Namibia’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. A public private partnership (PPP) initiative supported by Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED) and NSX listed First National Bank, SMEs Compete works closely with government economic ministries and business support service organizations like NCCI and JCC in support of enterprise and entrepreneurial development. The overall purpose of SMEs Compete’s corporate programme is to broaden Namibia’s economic base and increase national competitiveness. Components of the programme includes organising SME Business Expos, business mentoring, skills development training of entrepreneurs and their employees, guidance on product quality and productivity enhancement, and assistance to develop marketing material and strategies.
In turn, for corporate firms SMEs Compete offers services related to identification of outsourcing and SME linkage opportunities, and identification and introductions to potential service providers. This extends to helping SMEs comply with the accounting, quality and delivery requirements of corporate firms. Linkages between corporate firms and small enterprises are essential for stimulating economic development at a local level, says SMEs Compete. Put simply the principle espoused by SMEs Compete is that it is optimal to retain production, consumption and transfer of wealth within a specific community, if local economic development (LED) is to be achieved. LED or a bottom-up approach in turn is what will then develops the economy of a country and hear SMEs like Dune Textiles must play a lead role.
Eises this week said her firm has now expanded beyond the municipal boundary of Walvis Bay. It has signed a contract with a major player in the tourism sector, Leading Lodges of Africa, to manufacture staff uniforms for each of its eight lodges across Namibia. Next week Eises is off to Outjo to measure 70 staff at Epacha Game Lodge and Spa.
