Windhoek — Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) on Monday commissioned the new membrane filtration plant, the first of its kind in Africa. The plant forms part of its N$300 million, long-term infrastructure development programme.
Welcoming guests who included Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Hage Geingob, Sven Thieme the chairman of NBL said the company is proud that its brand is growing. He said NBL has taken a truly Namibian brand to the rest of the world. In 1998, NBL achieved its first milestone and over the next 14 years, NBL has more than doubled its production.
He said the NBL plays a major role in the fast-moving consumer industry and equally contributes significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The barley planted last year is showing same promising results and who knows, maybe soon, we will be able to produce our own and more employment opportunities will be offered in a variety of areas,” enthused Thieme.
Forty-two percent of NBL produce is consumed locally while forty-seven percent is exported to South Africa and the remaining eleven percent is exported to the rest of the world.
Thieme said N$650 million has been invested in Namibia Breweries of which N$300 million was on infrastructure and expansion.
Geingob said government would continue to secure regional and international market access through bilateral and multilateral agreements to ensure that local manufacturers and exporters such as the O&L (Ohlthaver & List) group continues to expand, compete successfully and repatriate profit to further boost the Namibian economy.
“Seeing Windhoek Lager in the international arena is certainly a source of great pride, not only to all Namibians but to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, as the custodian of industry Namibia,” said Geingob.
He stated that O&L and the NBL are on the right path and expressed the hope that many companies will follow their example.
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