The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) recently celebrated its dedicated partners and stakeholders in a lively atmosphere at the Annual Port Users and Stakeholders Dinner. Held on December 5 at the historic Lüderitz Old Power Station, the event, themed “Collaborate To Elevate!”, turned the spotlight on the crucial role of the port in facilitating economic growth and development in Namibia.
Ockert Theron, chairperson of the Lüderitz Port Users Association, praised Namport for its outstanding service and professionalism. His heartfelt commendation illustrates the strong relationship between the authority and its patrons. “We receive excellent and world-class service from Namport Lüderitz. Your reliability and ability to keep everything running smoothly are truly commendable. Please keep it up,” he said. With remarks like these, it’s evident that the future of Lüderitz Port is promising, largely thanks to the partnership with Namport.
Recognizing excellence in performance, Namport awarded accolades to its top-performing clients. Lüderitz Bay Shipping & Forwarding, a division of Manica Group Namibia, took home the top honors for both revenue-based and volume-based categories. Joining them at the forefront were Logistics Support Services and Skeleton Coast Trawling as significant revenue contributors. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also received their due recognition, with South Point Ship Agents and Namibia Ship Chandlers emerging as top performers in this category.
Andrew Kanime, Namport’s CEO, highlighted the broader impact of the port beyond the mere movement of cargo. “Namport is committed to economic growth as well as shared prosperity and inclusive development across Namibia,” he emphasized. The financial outlook for FY 2024/2025 appears robust, with notable increases in cargo volumes: general cargo up by 13% and container volumes soaring by an impressive 33%. Such impressive figures speak volumes about Namport’s operational efficiency and its vital role in Namibia’s trade ecosystem.
Further underscoring the positive trajectory, Kanime noted a 19% increase in cross-border volumes, fueled by economic recovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Botswana, which benefited from heightened mining outputs. Although volumes from South Africa have seen a slight decline, the diverse nature of cargo handled—ranging from nickel and manganese to fertilizers and cruise line operations—demonstrates the port’s resilience and adaptability.
The successful collaboration showcased at this event not only underscores the importance of partnerships in driving economic growth in Namibia but also sets the stage for future development initiatives at Lüderitz. For a country investing in its ports as vital gateways to trade, this is indeed a time of optimism and opportunity.
Stay tuned for more updates from Namport and how its initiatives continue to influence trade and economic prosperity in Namibia.
#Tourism #BusinessNews #WorldNews #Namibia #PortDevelopment #EconomicGrowth
