Agri Alert Namibia: AGRA CELEBRATES OPENING OF OSHIVELO BRANCH

Honorable John Mutorwa shakes hands with Honorable Penda Ya

Ndakolo, Governor of the Oshikoto region, while Agra CEO, Peter Kazmaier and

Headman Nation Nashikaku look on.

Agra officially opened the Agra Oshivelo retail store on Friday, 3 August, at an “auspicious, historic and significant ceremony” as the keynote speaker, honorable John Mutorwa, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry described the event. Honorable Mutorwa did the inauguration on behalf of His Excellency, Hifikipunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia.

Honorable John Mutorwa after unveiling the plague.

In his address, honorable Mutorwa commended and congratulated Agra for opening their eighteenth retail branch in Namibia, in Oshivelo in the Oshikoto region, and stated that Government fully agree that Agra, through this shop, will provide a significant footprint in the Namibian agricultural industry. “The investment is in line with the overall policy directives of Government to pay particular attention to areas previously excluded from development”, he said as he referred to specific resolutions of the 1991 Land Conference on Land Reform and the Land Question with regards to development of rural areas. Mutorwa also referred to the MAWF’s Strategic development plan, GRN’s Fourth Development Plan (NDP4) and Vision 2030 which all exhort, encourage and call upon partnerships of all role players to achieve the noble national goals and objectives as articulated in these important documents.

The head table, from left: CEO of Agra, Peter Kazmaier, Honorable Minister
John Mutorwa, Governer of the Oshikoto region Honorable Penda Ya Ndakolo,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Agra, Ryno van der Merwe and General
Manager: Retail and Wholesale, Arnold Klein

Agra’s CEO, Peter Kazmaier, confirmed Agra’s confidence of investing into the rural areas of Namibia leading to this investment of N$7 million into the Oshivelo building infrastructure and another N$3 million into the stock of various products. He thanked the traditional authorities, regional governments and the community for welcoming Agra in their midst. Kazmaier also expressed his appreciation for the support and participation of the King of Ondonga, King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas and the headman of Oshivelo, Mr. Nation Nashikaku, who was instrumental in getting the project off the ground and walked with Agra from day one to make the project successful. King Elifas and Headman Nashikaku are both shareholders and Mr. Nashikaku also serves on the Board of Directors of Agra Oshivelo retail.

Kazmaier shared Agra’s vision 2015: ‘Agra – a source for growth’, which contains the targets to create another 300 employment positions, double its current turnover and contribute a substantial amount to their corporate social investment projects. “This means that we will continue to invest in the Namibian agricultural sector and we will also continue our efforts to improve the knowledge and skills in the various agricultural disciplines, by providing training, assistance and support through our Professional Services Division and our support of agricultural projects and initiatives,” he said.

The Governor of the Oshikoto region, Honorable Penda Ya Ndakolo, in his message thanked Agra’s board and management for opening the branch. “Such a business expansion can propel an organisation to greater heights and bring on prosperity,” he said and encouraged the community to make use of the goods and services of Agra and of the ideal agriculture conditions and Government’s inputs to produce sustainably.

The Oshivelo Agra branch already opened its doors for business on 27 July 2012, providing a wide range of farming inputs and products for the general public. This first fully fledged branch in this area of Namibia provides 650m² trading space, with additional storage space of 290m². A huge interlocked and fenced yard provides enough parking and loading space while insulation and air conditioning in the building add to a pleasant shopping environment.

Whenever Agra undertakes a major investment, they also contribute to a worthy agricultural project in the local community. In Oshivelo, the Uukumwe Combined School’s agricultural project was supported with a donation of material and tools to the value of N$30 000 towards the establishment of vegetable garden and a chicken shelter where students can gain practical experience. The donation was done a while ago and with the opening of the branch, there was already significant progress in the project, which Minister Mutorwa noted and found impressive.

Performances by local traditional singers and dancers gave a festive flair to the opening event, which ended in a tour of the branch.