The main development project of Iceland in Namibia finished in December. Icelanders have participated in development work in the country for 17 years.
Icelanders have mainly assisted Namibians with developing their fishing industry, ever since the country gained independence from South-Africa 17 years ago. RÚV reports.
Icelandic fishermen and specialists have researched the fishing potential in Namibian waters and Namibian biologists have been trained in Iceland.
Since 1993, Icelandic teachers have worked at and helped to develop the educational program in the Fisheries Management Training Centre in Walvis Bay, which is one of the best in Africa, according to a recent evaluation by International Maritime Administration.
Vilmundur Vídir Sigurdsson, who participated in the project for six years, told RÚV that he was thrilled about how interested Namibians are in learning about fishing and developing the fishing industry in their country.
Icelandic participation in running the Fisheries Management Training Centre ended formally on December 16 2006. Since then most of the teachers in the Training Centre have been Namibians.
Polli Andima, the principal of the Training Centre, told RÚV that he is satisfied that the Centre is now mostly in the hands of Namibians. Andima said that if it had not been for Icelandic assistance, he did not believe the Training Centre would be in this position today.
Icelanders will continue their development work in Namibia.
