After David Nujoma swapped his post as CEO of the Namibian Investment Centre in the ministry of trade and industry for heading the newly established Development Bank of Namibia, the chair at the NIC remained empty for almost a year. Bernadette Artivor, who filled the position at the start of this month, has a noteworthy track record and a wealth of experience, according to the NIC. Her immersion in the economic arena began during her 12 years in exile, through education, to Masters level, at the Prague School of Economics, where she specialized in international trade. Back in Namibia, one of her first tasks was at the Institute for Socio-Economic Research. In May 1991, Artivor was appointed Director for Development Cooperation in the National Planning Commission, responsible for mobilising external donor resources and technical assistance, a post she held for eight years. From 1997, she served as co-ordinator of the President’s Economic Advisory Council, consolidating relations between government and the private sector in furtherance of national development goals. Artivor’s immediate vision, as she takes hold of the NIC’s promotional reins, is to make Namibia an investment location of choice, the NIC reported in its latest newsletter.

Ongopolo Mining & Processing at Tsumeb has set in motion two investment

Projects which are the establishment of a copper refinery at Tsumeb and the

setting up of a foundry and copper rod and wire manufacturing plant in Walvis Bay. The refinery is to be located at the company’s new Tschudi Mine,20 kilometres west of Tsumeb, which will be operational by the end of this year. This will serve to increase its production of blister copper, which currently averages 25 000 t per year, to a projected 30 000 t by 2007.

These expansion plans are predicated on long-term commitments regarding the supply of copper concentrates from the DRC and Zambia in addition to Ongopolo’s own production. According to the latest newsletter of the Namibia Investment Centre, (NIC), Ongopolo will increase its own copper production opening mining operations at Tsumeb West in 2003 and re-opening operations at Matchless Mine near Windhoek soon. The shaft sinking project at Asis Far West is well on schedule, with the shaft due to be commissioned early in 2005. The proposed foundry and copper wire manufacturing plant at Walvis Bay, will use refined copper from Tschudi. Copper prices have increased recently, justifying these investments.

Ongopolo will further be a major contributor to-the University of Science and

Technology, located in Tsumeb. The institution is being set up to address the country’s industrial skills deficit.