The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) spent N$150 million on skills development through its National Training Fund (NTF) during the past financial year. That is contained in the NTA Annual Report tabled last week in the National Assembly by Higher Education, Training and Innovation Minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi. The NTF mobilises for skills development and allocates funds generated for prioritising skills training programmes to meet economic, technical and financial criteria. It stimulates more and better enterprise-based training, inspiring the development of a training market and enhancing the capacity of private training providers, in order to reduce skills shortages. NTA chief executive officer, Jerry Beukes said vocational education and training form the basis for economic growth and the development of local industries.