Launch of Namibia’s trading under The African Continental Trade Area (AFCFTA)

LAUNCH OF NAMIBIA’S TRADING UNDER THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL TRADE AREA (AFCFTA)

Namibia officially launches on the 30th of June 2025 trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Walvis Bay. Under the agreement, the Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) will participate in intra-African trade when the first consignment is shipped from the Walvis Bay harbour. The event, hosted by the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, brings together senior government officials, trade experts, and private sector representatives to mark Namibia’s entry into the AfCFTA market.

It’s never been easier

TO INVEST IN NAMIBIA

Namibia is ranked amongst the world’s most politically stable countries, with guaranteed safety, security and rule of law.  

Namibia is ambitiously establishing herself as a gateway for industrialisation in Southern Africa, leveraging the strategic location complemented by the world-class port at Walvis Bay, abundant natural resources, and forward-looking policies. With the best road network in Africa, Namibia serves as a logistics hub for road, rail, and sea transportation, connecting neighbouring countries and the Southern African Development Community to the global marketplace.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Key Takeaways from President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s First State of the Nation Address

“We are too few to be poor.”

— H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia

On 24 April 2025, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered her Maiden State of the Nation Address under the theme:

“Unity in Diversity, Natural Resources Beneficiation and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development.”

Here are some of the key highlights:

Seven Priority Sectors for Socio-Economic Transformation:

1. Agriculture

2. Sports

3. Youth Empowerment

4. Quality Education & Training

5. Creative Industries

6. Quality Health & Social Welfare

7. Land, Housing & Sanitation

Eight Critical Economic Enablers:

• Mining

• Energy

• Oil & Gas

• Tourism

• Agriculture

• Water

• Fisheries

• Transport & Logistics

Economic Outlook & Reforms:

• Projected GDP growth of 4.5% in 2025.

• Corporate tax reduction to 30% in 2025, down to 28% in 2026.

• Strengthened Sovereign Wealth Fund, now at N$450 million.

• Continued fiscal prudence with focus on debt stabilization and deficit reduction.

Education & Youth Empowerment:

• 100% subsidized tertiary education at public universities and TVET centres starting 2026.

• Consolidation of youth-focused grants into a single Youth Fund (N$257 million initial allocation).

• Launch of the National Youth Internship and Apprenticeship Programme.

Housing & Social Protection:

• Target of 10,000 low-cost housing units annually (50,000 over five years).

• Continued expansion of social safety nets, including support to orphans, vulnerable children, and persons with disabilities.

Energy & Industrialization:

• Focus on value addition in mining, oil & gas, and critical minerals.

• First oil production targeted within the shortest timeframe.

• Commitment to harness Namibia’s uranium potential as part of the energy mix.

Good Governance & Anti-Corruption:

• Reinforcement of anti-corruption frameworks through the Whistle-Blower Protection Act, Witness Protection Act, and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

• Call for a collective fight against corruption, echoing Julius Nyerere’s words: “Corruption is an act of treason.”

Foreign Policy & Diplomacy:

• Strong advocacy for multilateralism, peace, and security in the SADC region and beyond.

• Reaffirmation of Namibia’s support for the rights of the people of Western Sahara and Palestine.

• Commitment to economic diplomacy and strategic partnerships.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s message was clear:

Namibia stands ready to unlock its full potential through unity of purpose, accountability, and implementation excellence.

On March 21 inauguration of the 1st woman president in Namibia

Namibia’s first woman president-elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, will take office on March 21 in a ceremony to coincide with the country’s 35th Independence Day.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has been elected president and will be the country’s first female leader.

President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, vice president for Namibia and the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), won the elections in November with 57.31% of the vote. Nandi-Ndaitwah is the first woman to hold the post in a southern African country. SWAPO has governed Namibia since its independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.

“It’s not going to be business as usual,” Nandi-Ndaitwah, said of her presidency. “We must have radical shifts in addressing the plight of our people.”

She did not lay out specific plans, but mentioned a need for land reform and more equitable distribution of wealth.

Netumbo Ndaitwah, a formidable force in Namibia’s struggle for independence, has been a driving force since her teenage years. Joining the SWAPO movement at the tender age of 14, she remained steadfast in her unwavering belief that Namibians deserved freedom.

Her journey to this milestone is a testament to decades of dedication and sacrifice.

New ‘Visa on Arrival’ will apply from 1 April 2025 to all citizens from countries that do not grant visa exemption to Namibians.

Portuguese Citizens will be required to apply for a Visa on Arrival to
Namibia as from 1 April 2025

As part of Namibia’s ongoing efforts to enhance travel facilitation and strengthen international relations, the Namibian government has approved a new visa on arrival regime aimed at streamlining entry into the country. Under this new framework, nationals and citizens of countries that have not yet reciprocated Namibia’s visa exemption will now have the option to apply for a visa online or upon arrival.

HOW TO APPLY:
Online: Visitors can apply online before arriving in Namibia via
https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na
OR
• Visa on Arrival: applications can be completed on arrival at the listed Namibian ports of entry: Hosea Kutako International Airport, Ariamsvlei, Impalila, Katima Mulilo, Mohembo, Ngoma, Noordoewer, Oshikango, Oranjemund, Trans-Kalahari Border Posts, Walvis Bay Harbour and Walvis Bay International Airport, ports of entry.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
• Valid passport (with at least 6 months validity + 3 blank pages)
• Completed visa application form
• Confirmation of accommodation (hotel reservation or invitation letter)
• Confirmation of sufficient funds
• Travel itinerary
• Travel/ Medical Insurance
• Full birth certificate or parental consent letter if travelling with children
• Online visa on arrival applicants require a printed copy of the approved e-visa

Continue reading “New ‘Visa on Arrival’ will apply from 1 April 2025 to all citizens from countries that do not grant visa exemption to Namibians.”

Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s fiery freedom fighter and first president, dies aged 95

Namibia mourns Founding Father Sam Nujoma

Sam Nujoma, the fiery freedom fighter who led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 and served as its first president for 15 years, coming to be known as the father of his nation, has died. Nujoma’s death was announced Sunday by current Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, who said “as Founding President, His Excellency, Dr. Sam Nujoma provided maximum leadership to our nation and spared no effort to motivate each and every Namibian to build a country that would stand tall and proud among the nations of the world. In that vein, our venerable leader, Dr. Nujoma did not only blaze the trail to freedom – but he also inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors.”

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Celebração do 10.º aniversário da Obtenção da Categoria de Observadores Associados

O Cônsul Honorário da República da Namíbia, Dr Rogério Tavares foi recebido pelo Secretário Executivo da CPLP, Zacarias da Costa, e pelos representantes permanentes dos Estados-Membros, bem como, em representação do embaixador da Geórgia, a Chefe de Missão Adjunta, Diana Balarjishvili, o Embaixador do Japão, Ota Makoto, o Embaixador da República da Turquia, Haldun Koç, numa cerimónia comemorativa do 10.º aniversário da obtenção da categoria de Observador Associado, no dia 02 de dezembro de 2024, na sede da CPLP, em Lisboa.

Estes países obtiveram a categoria de Observador Associado da CPLP em 2014, pela X Conferência de Chefes de Estado e de Governo, em Díli.

Os Estados com o estatuto de Observador Associado assumem um compromisso com os objetivos e os princípios orientadores da CPLP, reforçando a possibilidade de aprofundar laços ao nível político, económico e cultural, podendo contribuir com empenho em prosseguir a promoção e difusão, ensino e aprendizagem da Língua Portuguesa.

A Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP) é o foro multilateral privilegiado para o aprofundamento da amizade mútua e da cooperação entre Angola, Brasil, Cabo Verde, Guiné-Bissau, Guiné Equatorial, Moçambique, Portugal, São Tomé e Príncipe e Timor-Leste.  (Fundada a 17 de Julho de 1996).

Global African Hydrogen Summit 2024 – Strategic Conference Programme

Connecting the energy industry to ignite transformative thought leadership.

Held under the theme From Ambition To Action: Fuelling Africa’s Green Industrialisation, the Strategic Conference will present transformative thought leadership and insights from the minds of heads of government, industry leaders, technology experts and energy pioneers to advocate, showcase and communicate the case for hydrogen and renewable energies as underpinning solutions to both a lower carbon energy system and the blueprint for a green industrial economy. Read More

NAMIBIA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

 

Namibia‟s industrial ambition is articulated in Vision 2030, which stipulates that the country should be an industrialised nation with a high income by the year 2030.

(NIDA), is a National Agency under both the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises (MFPE) and the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade (MIT) as hybrid governance model for public enterprises in Namibia. The agency was established through act of Parliament Act 16 of 2016 with the mandate to spearhead, among others to develop industrial, agribusiness and business infrastructure as well as facilitate investment attraction in the country. NIDA has also set aside adequate industrial land available for private sector development in different towns across the country, such as in Tsumeb, Otavi, Divundu, Walvis Bay, Karibib, Okahandja, Opuwo, Witvlei, Otjiwarongo, Omaruru, Oshakati, Brakwater and Prosperita in Windhoek.

The agency is requesting interested local and international investors to submit proposal to develop and operate commercial viable operations or projects for the long term leasing and or through joint venture arrangement with NIDA. Read More