Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi launched the Usakos SME Park Project at Erf 75, opposite the Engen One Stop, in Usakos on Thursday.
The event brought together Erongo Governor Natalia /Goagoses, regional and constituency leaders, the mayors of Usakos, Karibib and Omaruru, traditional authorities, local authority chief executives and Navachab Gold Mine managing director George Botshiwe.
In her keynote address, Ashipala-Musavyi said the project is a significant development for Usakos, the Erongo Region and the country.
She said the SME Park is not merely an infrastructure development but an economic intervention aimed at strengthening value chains, supporting small and medium enterprises, improving industrial competitiveness and positioning the town for participation in regional and global markets.
She said global trade is shifting due to digitalisation, geopolitical changes, and evolving consumer trends, and that the SME Park is intended to prepare entrepreneurs and youth to operate in these conditions.
According to her, the facility will function as a hub for cross-border commerce, youth entrepreneurship, new industries and SME capacity building, enabling participation in SADC, the African Continental Free Trade Area and international markets.
Ashipala-Musavyi said the role of Navachab Gold Mine deserves honourable recognition.
She said the mine’s support is not merely an act of corporate social responsibility but a strategic investment in the economic ecosystem that sustains both the mine and the surrounding communities. She said a strong Usakos means a stronger workforce, stronger supply chains and a strengthened regional economy.
By supporting the SME Park, Navachab Gold Mine, she said, is helping unlock multiplier effects that will stimulate local manufacturing, logistics, tourism, retail and business services, with benefits extending to Karibib, Omaruru, Otjimbingwe and Arandis, and contributing to national GDP growth.
She said trade remains central to Namibia’s economic growth, and that strengthening SME capacity is vital for integration into international value chains across mining, transport, agriculture, logistics, and digital services. She described the SME Park as a platform that will enable local businesses to meet international standards and access export opportunities.
The minister said her ministry will continue to ensure that smaller towns are incorporated into national development priorities such as value addition, job creation, sustainability, and foreign direct investment. She added that the launch demonstrates the impact of cooperation between national, regional, local and traditional leadership, supported by private-sector partners.
Ashipala-Musavyi concluded that the Usakos SME Park marks the beginning of efforts to position the town for meaningful participation in global trade, strengthen regional value chains and support economic transformation in rural and semi-urban Namibia.
