“I am proud and excited to be one of 22 entrepreneurs who will soon travel to the southern mining town of Rosh Pinah to showcase our products and services,” says an excited Flory Maletsky, the owner of McRis Printing & Designers. “It is an important growth strategy for a small firm like mine to gain markets beyond Windhoek and having a chance to exhibit in the south will help me tremendously,” adds Maletsky. The dynamic entrepreneur who founded and runs her business was meeting with Achim Mortier, Namibia country director of the German Development Service, Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED).

A beaming Flory Maletsky thanks DED country director Achim Mortier.

Maletsky met with Mortier to thank DED on behalf of 22 small business owners who will benefit from funding support to attend the Rosh Pinah Expo 2008 on 25 and 26 April.
The 22 small firms receiving sponsorship from DED have all been specially selected from diverse sectors and include manufactures of garments, leather products, health and beauty care products, producers of detergents and other cleaning material, local art and craft producers, as well as printing and catering service providers. They are from towns in the north and coastal regions of Namibia as well as from Windhoek and all have demonstrated ability to do business beyond the confines of the urban area where they are located, says Danny Meyer of local firm, SMEs Compete.
The German Development Service has allocated N$14 000 for the hire of two mini buses to transport the 22 entrepreneurs safely to Rosh Pinah. An additional N$12 600 from DED will fund accommodation during their four-day stay in the town. The entrepreneurs meet all other costs related to their participation at the event.
Mortier said that Germany recognizes the pivotal role small firms play in the economic development of Namibia. This is why it supports initiatives that focus on honing the technical and business skills of small Namibian owned firms. He thanked SMEs Compete for conceptualising the initiative.
The event has attracted more than 50 exhibitors making it double the size of last year’s pioneering show. Organized by SMEs Compete with the support of Skorpion Zinc, Exxaro Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation and First National Bank, Meyer says the initiative forms part of a longer-term local economic development strategy.
According to Meyer, the plan is for the newly formed branch of Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) in Rosh Pinah to make the event an annual and income generating project. “Following the success of last year’s exposition in Rosh Pinah, the first ever event of this nature to take place in the fast growing southern mining town, it makes sense for such an event to be the highlight on the town’s annual business calendar,” adds Meyer.