During the State of the Region Address in Mariental, Namibia, Governor Riaan McNab expressed his commitment to leveraging the green hydrogen agenda to drive socio-economic development in the Hardap region. He emphasized the potential of green hydrogen to tackle longstanding issues like unemployment, poverty, and insufficient service delivery. McNab highlighted the importance of using the interest in green hydrogen to stimulate additional sectors such as logistics, agriculture, and sustainable manufacturing, aiming to create new opportunities and industries. The governor urged local and regional leaders to collaborate in ensuring that the benefits of the green hydrogen industry reach the youth, enabling them to partake in this evolving sector. He promoted the Youth for Green Hydrogen scholarship for individuals aged 18 to 35 to equip them with the necessary skills, emphasizing the importance of youth empowerment. The governor's vision includes implementing initiatives aligning with the theme of 'Unity in Diversity, Natural Resources Beneficiation, and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development' from the Swapo Party Manifesto. McNab emphasized the need for a change in approach to address the region's challenges and unlock its economic potential, emphasizing unity and resource utilization to combat poverty.