Pick n Pay (PnP) Namibia opened a store in Ondangwa, attended by the Governor of the Oshana Region, Clemens Kashuupulwa, as well as the mayor of the town, Paavo Amwele, the new store was opened at the Ondangwa Ya Toivo Complex.

PnP managing director, Norbert Wurm, said: “I am extremely excited to celebrate yet another milestone achieved by PnP Namibia. PnP has come a long way in our country and has grown to become a leader in the local retail sector. As you may be aware, we have been absent from Ondangwa for much too long, but now we are here to stay.”

Wurm said that growth is a critical part of the PnP journey for the company and its employees as well as the surrounding communities.

He added: “Consequently, through everything we do, we are driven by the values of the O&L Group, of which PnP Namibia is a proud subsidiary. Not only do we strive to meet our customers’ expectations, but by opening new stores we also make significant strides towards our purpose of ‘Creating a future, Enhancing life’ for all Namibians by creating additional employment opportunities. We currently employ over 2 200 Namibians across the country, and PnP Ondangwa will employ an additional 105 – most of them from the surrounding community.”

During his address the mayor Amwele expressed excitement over the new store and the potential identified by others within the town.
He said: “Today’s activities are evident that other people see what we see – a prosperous future for the town. I would like to commend and applaud Namibia’s respected retailer, Pick n Pay Namibia, for acknowledging the potential of Ondangwa by investing in our people here through this lovely store. Ondangwa is the only urban centre in the northern part of the country that has an airport, a railway station and access to the road network of the country. This town is strategically located at the focal point of any economic activity in the Oshana Region. Today more than half of the population in the Oshana and Oshikoto regions come to Ondangwa to do their shopping, and to make use of other vital services. While the business and economic sector of Ondangwa is still in its growing stage compared to other towns within the region, it has certainly proven to be one of great potential, enough to become a strong competitor on the economic front.”

The Oshana Region governor Kashuupulwa during his keynote address placed much emphasis on development. He said: “I am very excited about development within the Oshana Region. This will draw more investment into this area of the country – a region with great potential to become an even stronger competitor on the Namibian economic front.”

Since its inception in August 1997, PnP Ondangwa is the 21st store opening for the retailer in Namibia.