By: Patemoshela Lukolo
The 15th Eenhana Expo officially opened this week under the theme ‘Advancing Innovation and Diversification,’ positioning itself as a platform for inclusive growth and strategic economic engagement in northern Namibia.
Officiated by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the event was used as a platform to call upon Namibia’s established businesses to go beyond participation and actively invest in local enterprise.
“I encourage you to build strategic partnerships, to establish businesses, and call upon you to mentor and invest in this town and spend time with our upcoming entrepreneurs, nurturing their innovative ideas into thriving enterprises,” the President stated.
Located in the Ohangwena Region, Eenhana has transformed into one of the growing towns in the country. As a vital link in the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Road, it holds strategic potential for business expansion and trade across the region.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised that economic initiatives in towns like Eenhana contribute directly to national goals under the newly launched Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). This development framework focuses on economic growth, transformation, and community resilience.
The expo’s alignment with this policy makes it a key building block towards broader national objectives.
Nearly 300 exhibitors are in attendance, 85 percent of whom are young entrepreneurs. Additionally, 72 exhibitors are from the creative industry, underscoring a shift towards youth-driven innovation and local value creation.
However, despite growing participation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) continue to face structural challenges, including limited access to capital and business mentorship.
In response, the government has established a N$257 million National Youth Fund set to launch in August. This fund will provide financial access to young people in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, sports, and creative industries with or without collateral.
Ohangwena Region governor, Kadiva Hamutumwa, echoed the need for intentional economic collaboration, noting that the expo has grown from a town council initiative into a nationally recognised platform driving investment and community development.
The President also noted the importance of using expos as sustained economic tools rather than one-off events. “Let us make use of this expo for high-level business networking, enabling us to understand what is available in the market in terms of commodities, services, and skills,” she said.
As Eenhana positions itself as a gateway for domestic and regional trade, the success of its local enterprises will depend not only on policy but also on the active involvement of established business leaders in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
