Some 170,000 jobs have been created by companies under the government's 'One District, One Factory' (1D1F) Programme, President Akufo-Addo has said. Delivering his seventh State of the Nation Address in Accra on Tuesday, he said the policy had led to the development of 321 1D1F projects. The number, he said, comprised projects by 211 new medium to large-scale factories and support for 110 existing companies to expand production. He said the government, between 2019 and 2020, had approved a number of incentives and duty exemptions to selected companies to support the implementation of the 1D1F Programme. 'In 2019 and 2020, thirty-seven (37) 1D1F companies were granted 25 exemptions approval by this August House (Parliament). However, from 2021 to date, no exemptions have been granted.' The President, therefore, urged Parliament to 'consider and approve all outstanding exemption applications as a matter of urgency to send positive signals to the business community.' He said the 1D1F programme was the 'cor nerstone' towards the country's industrial transformation and 'demonstrates how government can stimulate and incentivise the private sector to expand and diversify manufacturing across the country.' 'It is significant to note that, within the relatively short span of six years, the Government has directly intervened to stimulate interest in and support many private sector business promoters to make significant investments in manufacturing under the One-District-One-Factory Programme. '…These business promoters have so far invested in one hundred and forty-two (142) districts across the country, across all sixteen (16) regions, and achieving 54% district coverage. The aspiration is to bring a 1D1F project to every district,' he stated. Source: Ghana News Agency OPUWO: Finance and Public Enterprise Minister, Ipumbu Shiimi, on Wednesday, tabled the national budget for the fiscal year 2024/2025 in the National Assembly, under the theme 'Continuing the Legacy of the late President Hage Geingob by Caring for the Namibian Child.' According to the minister, the Ministry of Mines and Energy's budget increased by more than 50 per cent to N.dollars 381.9 million in FY2024/25, and some N.dollars 1.5 billion over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). The ministry's development budget has more than doubled, with N.dollars 131 million set aside to accelerate rural electrification and enhance access to power across the country. In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism received N.dollars 725.5 million, which is 19.4 per cent more than the previous year. Shiimi noted that additional resources will help the ministry address infrastructural gaps and promote Namibia as a tourism hub. Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises has bee n allocated a budget of N.dollars 8.1 billion for FY2024/25, which includes N.dollars 3 billion for the Public Servants Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) and more than N.dollars 700 million in transfer to public enterprises. The Meat Corporation of Namibia (MeatCo) received a budget of N.dollars 212 million, which includes the settlement of their contingent obligations. Meanwhile, Shiimi allocated N.dollars 300 million to TransNamib to assist their day-to-day operations, recognizing major infrastructure and operational constraints. An additional N.dollars 88 million has been set aside for the completion of the Lderitz Waterfront project, as well as N.dollars 77 million for Agribank's specialised subsidy programme to assist farmers whose operations have been hampered by drought circumstances. 'The strengthening of domestic economic fundamentals and the resultant strong revenue performance have created an avenue for us to expand the spending envelope to accelerate service delivery, address the most pressing needs and improve infrastructure development,' he noted. The minister put forward a budget of N.dollars 100.1 billion, representing a 12.4 per cent increase over the previous year's revised estimates. Source: The Namibia Press Agency