NAMIBIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY CROWNED BEST IN AFRICA

The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been named the Best Civil Aviation Authority in Africa, following a vote at the Aviation Week Africa (AWA) Gala Night, held in Livingstone, Zambia. The accolade, which honours excellence in regulatory performance and aviation safety across the continent, was presented to Toska Sem, Executive Director of the NCAA, by Captain Gabriel Luembe, Director General of the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA).

The continental recognition celebrates outstanding performance, regulatory excellence, and a steadfast commitment to aviation safety and service delivery across Africa.

“This award is a direct result of the tireless efforts and dedication of the NCAA staff, the visionary leadership of our Board of Directors, the continued support of our valued stakeholders, and the strong strategic guidance from our shareholder, the Ministry of Works and Transport,” she said. She added that the milestone affirms Namibia’s position as a key player in the development of safe and efficient air transport systems in Africa.

“This serves as motivation to continue raising the bar in regulatory excellence.”

BIPA EXTENDS PENALTY WAIVER PROGRAMME TO SEPTEMBER

The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) has extended its Annual Duty Penalty Waiver Programme until 30 September 2025, providing registered business entities with additional time to comply with regulatory requirements without facing penalties or interest charges.

“We continue to recognise the challenges that many businesses, especially SMEs, are facing. By extending the waiver programme, we are providing essential relief for entrepreneurs, enabling them to achieve compliance and continue playing an active role in Namibia’s economy,” said BIPA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ainna Kaundu.

“BIPA remains committed to fostering a supportive business environment and urges all non-compliant entities to utilise this extended waiver period to their benefit,” Kaundu said.

EU, NETHERLANDS PLEDGE N$258 MILLION TO NAMIBIA’S GREEN HYDROGEN FUND

The European Union (EU) and the Netherlands have announced a combined grant contribution of N$258 million (€12.9 million) to the SDG Namibia One Fund, aimed at supporting the development of Namibia’s green hydrogen sector.

EU Ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins, made the announcement ahead of the inauguration of the HyIron- Oshivela Project near Arandis on Friday. The fund, a green hydrogen-focused blended finance facility, is targeting US$1 billion to incubate Namibia’s green hydrogen industry and associated infrastructure.

“The SDG Namibia One Fund will receive a contribution of N$258 million from the European Union and the Netherlands,” Martins confirmed.

The facility, which currently holds a 24% equity stake in Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, is managed by Nam-H2 Fund Managers—a joint venture comprising Namibia’s Environmental Investment Fund (EIF), the climate-focused Climate Fund Managers (CFM), and Dutch development financier Invest International.

The announcement coincides with the HyIron-Oshivela Project entering the second phase of its operations, with plans to scale up production from 15,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnes per year. The project is a joint initiative between Namibian and German companies.

Last month, the HyIron Oshivela plant successfully produced its first batch of green hydrogen, with the production of green iron ore scheduled to begin shortly.

Namibia’s positioning as a clean energy exporter has gained momentum, driven by stringent decarbonisation targets across Europe and regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. These developments have placed Namibia in a favourable position to supply clean energy and materials with minimal carbon emissions.

“HyIron and Cleanergy are among the first to complete their initial pilot phases. There are other ventures involving European capital and technology, such as Zhero and Hyphen, which are expected to reach Final Investment Decision by the end of next year,” Martins said.

Currently, six European countries are actively engaged in Namibia’s green energy sector.

NCCI APPOINTS TITUS NAMPALA AS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has announced the appointment of Titus Nampala as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 7 April 2025.

Nampala brings a wealth of international experience to the role, having most recently served as Africa Head for S&P Global Ratings in Johannesburg.

Prior to that, he was with Rand Merchant Group, where he led the Africa Financial Institutions and Sovereigns Team, elevating the organisation’s brand through global platforms and pioneering several first-of-their-kind transactions across the continent.

His professional background spans key leadership roles in global financial centres including London and Dubai. Among his previous positions, Nampala served as Business Development Vice President for Africa and Country Head at Moody’s Investors Service South Africa, where he expanded Moody’s operations from a South African-centric model to a pan-African presence.

He was also a Global Client Solution Executive at FactSet Financials and held various investment banking roles at Citigroup.

Nampala holds post-graduate qualifications in Leadership in Emerging Markets and Nuclear Engineering, as well as an Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

The NCCI described Nampala as “an ideal candidate to lead the Chamber into a new era of growth and innovation,” citing his broad expertise and track record of leadership on the African continent.

As Nampala assumes his new role, the NCCI also paid tribute to outgoing Acting CEO Helena Mootseng, who has led the organisation during the transitional period.

“The NCCI would like to take this opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to Helena Mootseng,” the Chamber said. “Ms Mootseng has demonstrated exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to the NCCI’s mission and vision. Her commitment to steering the Chamber through a period of change has been exemplary and truly commendable.”

During her tenure, Mootseng was instrumental in maintaining operational stability and ensuring strong stakeholder engagement.

Mootseng will continue to serve as a key advisor to Nampala on relevant matters, ensuring continuity and strategic alignment during the leadership transition.

TRUMP’S 21% TARIFF TO HIT NAMIBIA’S BEEF AND FISH EXPORTS

The Ministry of International Relations and Trade says US President Donald Trump’s 21% import tariff on Namibian goods is likely to reduce the competitiveness of Namibian beef and fish exports in the US market. This, in effect, will lead to a decrease in sales volume and demand for Namibian products due to price increases driven by the tariff.

“Overall, the tariffs could disrupt established supply chains and negatively affect Namibia’s export earnings, while also threatening the broader preferential stability for Namibian products under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) regime,” said the Ministry’s Executive Director, Penda Naanda. “In terms of mitigating the impacts of the tariffs imposed, stakeholder engagement will be imperative to assess and establish the extent of the effects. These tariffs, introduced by Donald Trump, aim to address what the US perceives as a lack of reciprocity in trade relations and the suppression of domestic wages and consumption,” Naanda said.

He added that the Ministry is exploring several strategies to mitigate the impact of the 21% tariffs but is not in a position to disclose the details at this time.

“Unfortunately, this measure could result in unfair market conditions for Namibian products competing in the US market,” Naanda said.

DUTCH CONTRACTORS COMPLETE DEEPENING AND WIDENING OF WALVIS BAY PORT

Dutch maritime contractors Van Oord and joint venture partner Boskalis have successfully completed an extensive dredging project at Walvis Bay, Namibia.

According to Van Oord, the project involved deepening the 10-kilometre-long access channel to the port of Walvis Bay from -14.4 to -16.8 metres and widening it from 130 to 200 metres.

Additionally, the harbour basin was dredged to a depth of -16.3 metres and expanded by more than 400 metres. The work was carried out using trailing suction hopper dredgers Vox Alexia and Gateway.

The completion of the project is expected to improve access to the port, facilitating increased maritime trade and economic activity in Walvis Bay.

BON GOVERNOR WARNS AGAINST OVER-REGULATION

The Bank of Namibia (BoN) Governor Johannes !Gawaxab has cautioned against excessive regulation, warning that stringent policies could hinder economic growth and drive businesses into the informal sector.

“Namibia is a developing country, yet our regulations often mirror those of more advanced economies. We must acknowledge that our unique socio-economic challenges require a regulatory approach that is both flexible and progressive,” !Gawaxab said.

He also emphasised the importance of fostering a regulatory environment that enables businesses to operate efficiently while maintaining necessary safeguards for the purpose of consumer protection.

This comes as the central bank convened a Regulators Roundtable Engagement on “Smart Regulation for a Dynamic and New Economy” on Thursday, 3 April 2025.

The high-level gathering brought together key regulatory bodies, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore a regulatory approach that balances economic growth, innovation, and consumer protection.

Among the organisations represented were the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA), Payment Association of Namibia (PAN) and Namibia Revenue Agency (NAMRA).

Also present was the Electricity Control Board (ECB), Bankers Association of Namibia (BAN), Namibia Savings and Investment Association (NASIA), Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA), and Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB).

These institutions collectively contribute to fostering a more dynamic, responsive, and growth-oriented regulatory environment in Namibia.