The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in Namibia has plans to use US$74 million to assist in digital migration, e-waste management and film promotion in the country.
The funds will also be used to set up the Universal Service Fund (USF) for television coverage, and deploying services to rural areas.
Part of the budget will also be used to also set up plans for digital migration in the country, with the ministry hosting the fifth Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Digital Broadcasting Migration Forum April 15 to 17, to discuss the way forward for the region.
The ministry will also use an additional N$32 million (US$3.4 million) to aggressively encourage the development of film in the country through the Namibia Film Commission (NFC). One of the ways the NFC is going to promote film is by ensuring local films are screened to the public at no cost.
The NFC will also promote the country as a filmmaking destination on the international market. This will attract N$8 million (US$874,000) in funds.
“Furthermore, high level discussions are on course with a number of stakeholders such as the Namibia Tourism Board, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Environment and Tourism as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs to strengthen cooperation and aggressively market Namibia to the international world to make our country competitive in Africa,” the New Era Newspaper quoted minister of information and communication technology Jöel Kaapanda as saying.
N$451 million (US$49 million) will be budgeted for state owned enterprises and institutional bodies. This includes the Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA) which will be allocated N$17 million (US$1.8 million). NamZim newspapers and New Era will each receive N$7 (US$765,000) million.
