Introducing Namibia
Namibia is ranked amongst the world’s most politically stable countries. The Namibian government is committed to stimulating economic growth and employment through the attraction and retention of investments.
Namibia is strategically located on the southwestern coast of Africa and serves as a quintessential trade conduit with the rest of the world for landlocked neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo through the port of Walvis Bay. Compared to other ports in the region, the congestion-free port of Walvis Bay offers shipping lines time savings of up to five days to Europe and the Americas, and is a springboard into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade block, with a market access of 330 million people.
Namibia is endowed with natural wind and sun resources, and is considered to be amongst the most competitive (solar and wind energy) destinations in the world with the potential to become a producer and exporter of green hydrogen, reckoned to catalyse the decarbonisation of the planet.
Namibia’s primary infrastructure is well-developed and modern, with the road infrastructure quality ranked the best in Africa, an efficient communication system with global cellular networks and globally competitive broadband, as well as a sophisticated financial sector. The economy is mostly export-driven, with mining, tourism, fishing and agriculture being Namibia’s key sectors.
Economy
Rate
N$1 = US$ 19.1324 (16 August 2023, Bank of Namibia)
Trade Agreements
- African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
- Namibia-Zimbabwe Preferential Trade Agreement
- Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
- Southern African Customs Union (SACU) – European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- Southern African Customs Union (SACU) –
- Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR)
- SACU – Mozambique – United Kingdom (UK) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC) – EuropeanUnion (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
- World Trade Organisation (WTO)
Investment Climate
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) serves as the first-point contact for potential investors and provides comprehensive services from the initial consulting stage to the operational stage. The NIPDB also provides general information and advice on investment opportunities, incentives and procedures.
The task of the NIPDB is to help investors reduce red tape by liaising with government departments and regulatory agencies, including obtaining work visas for foreign investors. The government of Namibia, therefore, welcomes and encourages foreign investment to help develop the national economy for the benefit of the people.
Rankings
- 1st in Africa, World Press Freedom Index – Reporters Without Borders (2023)
- 1st in Africa for the past five years, Quality and Connectivity of Road Infrastructure, Global Competitiveness Report – World Economic Forum (2019)
- 1st in Africa (8th globally), Global Gender Gap – World Economic Forum (2023)
- 4th in Africa for the least corrupt public sector, Corruption Perception Index – Transparency International (2022)
- 8th in Africa Overall Good Governance – Ibrahim Index of African Governance (2022)
- Top 10 in Africa, Investment Attractiveness Index, Annual Survey of Mining Companies – Fraser Institute (2021)
Policy Environment
Namibia’s foreign investment policy is governed by the Foreign Investment Act No. (27 of 1990 – FIA). The aim of the Act is to address and stimulate foreign investment in Namibia. The Namibia Investment Promotion Act (NIPA) is currently under review and will replace the FIA.
Why Namibia?
Diversification Strategy
Since 2016, Namibia has been hit by a series of negative events, including a commodity price downturn, an extended sub-continental drought and, like the rest of the world, the Covid-19 pandemic. The combination of these negative trends has amplified the cyclical nature of Namibia’s economy.
As part of a high-level intervention to reduce the impact of these events, the government of Namibia engaged the Harvard Kennedy School’s Growth Lab in 2019 with the aim of creating a roadmap to more sustainable economic development and growth. A joint team of representatives from the Bank of Namibia (the country’s central bank), Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises, the National Planning Commission, Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, and the Harvard Growth Lab has been shepherding the process alongside other Namibian stakeholders.
The work Namibia has been doing with the Harvard Growth Lab predominantly focuses on:
- Diagnosing structural deficiencies in the economy
- Assessing and understanding the country’s economic complexity shortcomings
- Identifying specific strategies which could address the lack of economic depth
One of the major objectives that emerged from this research and analysis was the development of the Country Economic Diversification Strategy to address core issues impacting Namibia’s economy. The strategy is expected to:
- Reduce exposure to commodity price fluctuations and cycles
- Develop new sectors and products in the economy
- Focus on services and the economic value they create
- Increase economic complexity by facilitating the conversion of primary products from the commodities sector into secondary products
- Create new sectors and industries that will support the country’s energy transition ambitions, making Namibia a continental leader in thegreen economy
Economic diversification efforts will be based on several sectors and prioritisation that leverages existing productive capabilities, and that may enable transitions towards more sophisticated economic activities, these sectors include:
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Areas of investment opportunity
- Mineral fuels
- Machinery & mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors
- Vehicles, parts & accessories
Why invest?
- Established industry
- Abundant resources (solar, wind & biomass)
- Nampower Modified Single Buyer (MSB) model
- Export to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)
- Cheaper power for more industries
FOOD INDUSTRY
Areas of investment opportunity
- Bidding on public green schemes
- Partnering with local project owners/farmers
- (projects of various sizes are available)
Why invest?
- Well-established industry
- Existing & expanding market access (meat (organic) toEurope, US grapes to Europe, fish to Europe)
- Secure private land tenure
- National, regional & international need
TOURISM
Tourism and hospitality have become synonymous with Namibia. The contribution of tourism to the national GDP was about N$7 billion, the third largest contributor aftermining and agriculture. Conservation is a cornerstone of
the Namibian experience, as Namibia was the first African country to incorporate protection of the environment into its constitution.
Why invest?
Natural resources, especially in the form of natural beauty, are abundantly available.
SERVICES (DIGITAL & GLOBAL BUSINESS)
Areas of investment opportunity
Call centres, training centres, and business process outsourcing centres
Why invest?
- Advanced digital infrastructure
- Excellent national connectivity
- Linguistic prowess
- English as the only official language – many
- citizens also fluent in German, Portuguese,
- French, Spanish & Mandarin
MINING, CHEMICALS & ADJACENT INDUSTRY
Areas of investment opportunity
Diamonds | Uranium | Copper | Lead | Zinc | Manganese | Tin | Rare Metals (REE, Tantalum, Niobium) | Lithium | Gold | Silver |Salt | Marbles | Granites
- Top 10 producer of diamonds
- Fourth largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa andfourth largest producer of uranium oxide
Why invest?
- Significant natural resources
- Very well established local & regional mining industries
- Established salt & plastics industries
- Green hydrogen developments
- Oil & gas finds
- Diversification & quality employment
TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
Areas of investment opportunity
The transportation and logistics industries have always been lucrative and are expected to grow exponentially as both the local and regional economies grow and become even more interconnected.
Why invest?
- Market access
- Logistical hub
- Available workforce
- Regional resources
- Diversification & quality employment