16 July 2026.
ITI remarks summary
The establishment of the Waterberg Business Chamber comes at a critical time
when the region is undergoing economic transition, particularly in energy, mining,
agriculture, and sunrise and emerging sectors such as global business services,
conservation, renewable energy and tourism. The Chamber should serve as a
unified voice of business, promoting inbound local and foreign investments, fostering
partnerships, advocating for an enabling policy and regulatory environment, and
driving sustainable local economic development, including re-igniting activity in other
sectors such as recycling food gardens in rural villages.
A simple approach proceeds as follows: Waterberg sectors set their targets, identify
the top three/four growth constraints, what it would take to unblock these, and then
indicate what they could invest or contribute if these constraints were cleared. This
forms the basis of engagement with the relevant government entities to pragmatically
solve the priority constraints and move the dial on new or existing investment. The
chamber therefore exists to agitate for participation, prioritisation, and
implementation. We all need to adopt a different mindset, take ownership and
agency for developing the Waterberg, solve problems and mobilize action through a
concrete, inclusive, measurable and transformational approach.
“New methodologies, strategies and innovative approaches however mean nothing
without the collaborative undertaking between business, government, labour and
communities towards the achievement of the greater good. Such approaches do not
solve problems, people do”, Daniel Ngwepe, ITI Director.