The Erongo Region has seen notable progress in oil and gas, green hydrogen, tourism, agriculture, and trade, marking a period of economic growth and opportunity.
Governor Nathalia |Goagoses said this during the state of the region address held at Swakopmund today.
|Goagoses said that the major development in the energy sector is the completion of a new Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) import and storage facility in Walvis Bay. She added that this facility is positioned to address the national LPG shortage and enhance regional trade capacity.
She added that there is a growing interest in offshore oil and gas exploration along the Erongo coastline, holding promising prospects for employment creation, particularly for the youth.
"The Daures Green Hydrogen project near Uis is one of the success stories in the production of fertilisers and green ammonia, built at the cost of N$252 million. The project has created over 300 jobs, with the majority of employees hailing from the surrounding villages in the constituency. It has since donated more than 15,000 seedlings to the various communities in the Daures Constituency. Other notable initiatives in the green hydrogen space include Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, which employs nearly 50 people, and the Oshivela Hylron, employing the same number."
She further stated that the region's fishing industry remains a vital economic pillar, supported by the Benguela current's nutrient-rich system.
The sector, she added, directly employs about 13,000 people and plays a significant role in national revenue generation.
Tourism, the governor alluded, has rebounded strongly after the global pandemic, with a 60% room occupation rate, indicating growing interest from local, regional, and international visitors, she notes.
"The Namibia Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (2022-2024), which has been at the centre of the tourism boom, is being successfully implemented in the region. The Erongo tourism industry registered 381 new tourism businesses, involving mainly tour operators and self-catering accommodations. Imperatively, this path underscores the region's growing demand for visitors. Another milestone in the success stories of the tourism industry is the rise in cruise ship tourism to the town of Walvis Bay. In this reporting period, 29 cruise liners docked at the port, bringing 36,000 tourists to the region."
Agriculture, the governor stated, while smaller in economic scale, remains a livelihood source for at least 4% of the region's population, with 77 farmers receiving seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation support.
The region, she announced, completed its first shipment of 45,000 metric tonnes of salt under the African Free Trade Area framework.
She said the shipment highlights the growing role of the region in economic integration and the potential for Namibian businesses to compete more effectively across the continent.
