Namibia Urged to Turn Trade Into Investment, Jobs and Industrial Growth

By Johanna N. Festus

Namibia must turn trade opportunities into investment, stronger local production and sustainable jobs to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on raw-material exports, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has said.

Opening the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAiTEX) 2026 at The Dome in Swakopmund, the President called on businesses to use trade exhibitions to secure customers, build partnerships and expand into regional and international markets.

She said Namibia’s relatively small domestic market made it necessary for local enterprises to reach more customers, increase local sourcing and add value to products before selling them in wider markets.

“Trade expos are far more than a showcase of product and services,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said, describing them as marketplaces where producers meet buyers, investors identify opportunities and entrepreneurs build relationships that can lead to contracts, partnerships and jobs.

She said the country needed to move beyond exporting raw materials towards producing, processing and marketing higher-value goods.

The President highlighted diamond packaging as an example of how product presentation could affect export competitiveness. She said Namibia’s diamond packaging compared unfavourably with that of other producers, potentially discouraging customers and affecting price negotiations.

“The appearance does not really look attractive,” she said, urging businesses to pay greater attention to marketing and presentation.

Her remarks underline the importance of not only producing valuable commodities but also ensuring that they are presented and marketed in ways that appeal to international buyers. Better packaging and branding, alongside processing and other forms of value addition, could help businesses compete more effectively in export markets.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government was working on a value-addition policy, while the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) prioritised economic diversification, industrial development and employment creation.

She also urged entrepreneurs to prepare for opportunities in emerging industries, including oil and gas, renewable energy, green hydrogen and rare earth minerals. The local-content policy was nearly finalised, she said, with the government intending to submit it alongside accompanying legislation.

The President called on large businesses to work with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), saying stronger partnerships could help smaller firms enter supply chains and expand their operations.

She also pointed to the Youth Development Fund, saying some young people had already started benefiting and urging established businesses to mentor emerging entrepreneurs.

Regional trade presents another opportunity for Namibian companies. Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted the Port of Walvis Bay and transport corridors linking Namibia to neighbouring countries and international markets. She also identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as a platform for expanding trade in goods and services across the continent.

However, she said businesses needed to meet product and safety standards, improve packaging, deliver reliably and offer competitive prices to benefit from wider market access.

The President further called for stronger cooperation between government, businesses, workers, financial institutions and communities to address barriers to investment and job creation. She said the success of trade exhibitions should be measured not only by the number of stands or visitors, but also by whether businesses continued operating and young entrepreneurs received mentorship after the events.

SWAiTEX 2026 is being held under the theme “Powering Africa’s Next Economy: Innovation, Inclusion and Industrial Growth”.

For Namibia, the broader challenge is to turn trade opportunities into stronger local enterprises, higher-value exports, increased domestic production and sustainable employment.