Forty Micro-, Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are receiving a four-month mentorship and training programme under the guardianship of Standard Bank Namibia and Namibia Investment and Financial Academy.
 
The training aims to empower them from both the formal and informal sectors, ensuring inclusivity and a focus on achieving 50% female and youth participation.
 
This initiative aims to foster economic growth, enhance financial inclusion and promote sustainable industrialisation.
 
It also serves as an intervention towards the government's broader efforts, in light of the Youth Development Fund, which reinforces collective commitments to enabling the youth to access funds and create employment.
 
The Head of Enterprise Direct at Standard Bank Namibia, Rodney Coetzee, emphasised the ripple effect of the training, noting that only forty participants were selected out of 690 applications.
 
In addition, at least 400 stand to benefit through job creation and household support.
 
The initiative is a direct response to the national agenda, aligning with Namibia's Vision 2030 and the Sixth National Development Plan.
 
It aims to unlock inclusive growth and create sustainable employment opportunities across the country.