The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated in the South African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) in Johannesburg this week. The expo, which was only open to the business world, showcased some 480 businesses and organisations from 28 countries, mainly from Africa. The NCCI had booked a stand under the theme "Namibia - your investment and trade destination" at which information brochures about all the important industries in Namibia were displayed according to Tarah Shaanika, CEO at the Chamber. The SAITEX platform was also used to market Namibia and the different services the NCCI offered to investors and the business sector, he said. SAITEX, which ended on Friday, is the longest-standing and most experienced international trade platform in Africa and has become a major market for local and international companies. According to the NCCI, the Johannesburg trade fair is the only multi-sector trade fair of its size and kind in Africa each year.

The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has 72 212 active members and N$ 11,2 billion invested assets according to the latest available abridged annual report. The pension fund mostly serves government officials and employees of parastatals. The GIPF had some information available at its stand at the Windhoek Show this week, showing that about 28 % if iits investments were in

manufacturing, 36 in agriculture like the grape industry and 8% in mining, mainly Ongopolo. According to the GIPF philosophy, about 7.5 % of the total

market value of assets is invested in Namibian projects, that contribute to the

economic development of Namibia. Some of those investments could be subject to a high risk of failure, the GIPF admitted in its information brochure.