Entrepreneurship capacity-building programme launched

October 16, 2019

UNDP Namibia Resident representative handing over a certificate to one of the EMPRETEC graduates

The EMPRETEC(link is external) Namibia Programme was officially launched on  by The Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development and UNDP Namibia on 16 October 2019 in Windhoek. The programme promotes entrepreneurship(link is external) as a vital component of economic(link is external) growth and development(link is external) in the country.

Speaking at the event, UNDP Namibia(link is external) Resident Representative Ms. Alka Bhatia stated that the EMPRETEC Namibia pilot programme will target 1,650 unemployed people. EMPRETEC has a notable success rate as many of the graduates have gone on to establish businesses and create further employment.

A total of 56 Micro, Small and Medium entrepreneurs(link is external) have graduated from the first 2 sets of training of the EMPRETEC Namibia programme. The cohort received their certificates at the official launch of the programme.

“I implore upon you to go out there and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit to assist the Namibian Nation in efforts to eradicate poverty & ensure both social and economic #transformation(link is external) stated the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development,(link is external) Hon. Lucia Iipumbu at the #EMPRETEC Namibia launch.

The programme’s central product is the Entrepreneurship Training Workshop (ETW), which aims to foster the motivation and self-confidence of participants who have chosen to start or expand their businesses. It is based on a behavioural approach, designed to unleash personal entrepreneurial potential.