Retail Week for Buy Local, Grow Namibia campaign

Last week's Retailers promoted Namibian products available at their stores.

It was the "Retail Week" leg of the Buy Local, Grow Namibia campaign, and retailers built displays and prominent features in store to draw attention to everything local and very "lekker!"

Honourable Lucia Iipumbu, Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development visited various retail partners, who joined hands in support of the "Buy Local, Grow Namibia" campaign.

Fresh Namibian produce, beverages, chocolate, flour, milk, dried fruit, sweets, yoghurt, cookies, water... the list is too long to mention everything. Products were on display for everyone to see, buy and savour to support local producers and suppliers.

The retailers toured by the Minister included Spar, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Woolworths, Agra and Food Lover's Market. Managers and Country Representatives explained to the Minister their product lines, their expansion plans and their ideas to support the cause to buy local and grow Namibia. It was all on hands on deck for the retailers, producers and retail staff and their time to shine.

The Minister was accompanied by the CEO of the Namibia Trade Forum, Ms Stacey Susa-Pinto, Mr David Namalenga, MD of Dinapama, Team Namibia Representatives, The Namibian Newspaper Representative as well as members of the media. Sean K, local Namibian artist also part of the delegation, came out to support this Namibian Campaign.

Nearing the end of her tour, the UN Resident Coordinator to Namibia, Mr Sen Pang, accompanied the Minister on her visit to Maerua Superspar, where Mr Eugene van Wyngaard, Cross Border Executive for Spar Namibia and Mr Robert Voigts, Maerua SuperSpar Owner explained Spar's unique value proposition in supporting local products. The shop display showcased Namibian products under the Buy Local, Grow Namibia branding.

The Minister expressed her excitement in the product variety already available and was pleased to hear of plans to increase this.

The UN Resident Coordinator was pleased with the range of Namibian products, the employment opportunities it creates as well as the support consumers demonstrate by purchasing the products.

Retail week highlighted to Namibians that local produce and a wide range of Namibian products are available, and with the Buy Local, Grow Namibia branding in-store, consumers can easily identify these products and choose to purchase them to take action to buy local and grow Namibia.

The UN System in Namibia is a proud partner of this initiative which is in support of the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) which will help Namibia to achieve its Vision 2030 and Development Goals.