WINDHOEK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy has encouraged the mining industries in his country to invest in value addition as well as making sure Namibian accrue benefits from their operations.

Speaking Wednesday at a mining conference, the minister Tom Alweendo said mining is a risky business that needs his country to take full advantage of its resources for development, especially in infrastucture.

He also called for the extractive industry to invest in the country's education sector to develop a better skills base because "mining resources can easily deplete."

Alweendo said Namibia is going to continue developing investor favorable legislation that allows it to accrue benefits from its mining resources while allowing profitability for investors.

"Mining is by far the biggest contributor to our economy, contributing 14 percent to GDP ... Our citizens are keen to know how they benefit from their resources. We need to look at the ownership, value addition and the fact that mining relies on external forces before moving on ways to tap benefits from our mining industry," he said.