Ondangwa: The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, in collaboration with the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) and Desert Planet Industries (Pty) Ltd (DPI), has signed a contractual agreement to lease and operationalise the Ondangwa Tannery.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the tannery, which has been non-functional for over two decades, is set to be transformed into a sustainable industrial leather shoe processing factory. Under a 25-year lease agreement, the facility is expected to start its operations by March 2026, focusing on manufacturing leather products.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mines and Energy, Natangue Ithete, underscored the significance of the agreement, noting that the revival of the Ondangwa Tannery marks the beginning of new partnerships and investments in the agro-processing value chain.

Desert Planet Industries CEO, Adami Doriano, announced that the company will invest N.dollars 58 million for the lease duration, with plans to employ approximately 1,000 people and produce 2,000 shoes daily once fully operational. Doriano expressed the company's commitment to restoring the tannery's full-scale operations and contributing to the Namibian economy.

NIDA Board Chairperson, Sebby Kankondi, highlighted the project's potential in skills development, employment, and empowerment of local communities, particularly benefiting the youth and women. Kankondi emphasized the operator's role in job creation and enhancing the livelihoods of producers and suppliers involved with the facility.

Ithete further indicated that the agreement aims to unlock value, restore industrial capacity, and create sustainable employment opportunities in the country. The minister encouraged northern farmers to supply the facility with a minimum monthly volume of industrial cattle, small stock, and seals.