The Second Namibia–European Union Business Forum will take place in Windhoek from 11 to 13 May 2026, bringing together approximately 400 high-level participants to discuss trade and investment opportunities. The forum will focus on five priority sectors—green hydrogen and renewable energy, critical raw materials, agribusiness, cultural and creative industries, and the automotive industry—and will feature presentations of 30 bankable Namibian projects to prospective investors.
Why it matters
Major economic opportunity: Windhoek set to host second Namibia-EU Business Forum in May 2026 with 400 participants and 30 bankable projects targeting N$390 billion in investment.
The Second Namibia–European Union Business Forum will take place in Windhoek from 11 to 13 May 2026, bringing together approximately 400 high-level participants to discuss trade and investment opportunities. The forum will focus on five priority sectors—green hydrogen and renewable energy, critical raw materials, agribusiness, cultural and creative industries, and the automotive industry—and will feature presentations of 30 bankable Namibian projects to prospective investors.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for open dialogue in Namibia's fishing industry as unions warn the sector is in crisis, with workers facing job insecurity, poor conditions, and limited benefits. The three-day consultation at Walvis Bay includes presentations from unions and employers, with government officials to discuss fish stocks, employment practices, and quota allocation reforms.
The City of Windhoek approved 192 building plans in March worth N$100.1 million, up in volume from 150 in February but declining 30.9% month-on-month in value. Residential units approved increased to 32 from 28, though their total value fell to N$46.3 million from N$65.1 million, reflecting a shift towards lower-value developments.
The Namibia-European Union Business Forum, scheduled for 12–13 May in Windhoek, aims to secure N$390 billion in investment for green energy, logistics hubs, and sustainable economic diversification. The event will focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy, critical raw materials, agribusiness, cultural and creative industries, and the automotive sector, with Walvis Bay and Lüderitz positioned as key logistics hubs.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has allocated N$42.1 million under Phase 2 of the Universal Service Fund to MTC and Telecom Namibia to expand mobile and internet infrastructure into rural and underserved regions, including nine strategic RAN tower locations across five regions and connectivity to 15 public institutions. The project, 39% complete as of March 2026, supports Namibia's national development target of increasing internet penetration from 53% to 90% by 2030.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah met with Namibia Atlantic Salmon Holdings to review plans for Africa's first large-scale salmon farming industry along Namibia's coast, emphasising the need for job creation, local ownership, and sustainable practices. The project would produce up to 51,000 tonnes of salmon under its initial licence, with the Namibia Industrial Development Agency aiming to structure local ownership at 60%.
Namibia's tax authority recorded a sharp rise in penalties waived under the government's tax amnesty programme in 2024/25, with the value of write-offs nearly tripling.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah held discussions with fishing industry stakeholders in Walvis Bay to explore how the sector can be strengthened, emphasizing the need to address worker welfare concerns, fish stock sustainability, and identify practical solutions through collective action.
The government has confirmed plans to expand Hosea Kutako International Airport, including construction of a third terminal, as part of efforts to increase capacity and position Namibia as a regional aviation hub. The upgrades will include improving air navigation systems and expanding passenger handling capacity, with the government exploring public-private partnerships to finance the infrastructure.
The Meat Corporation of Namibia exported 45.2% of its Norway beef quota (521 017.59kg of 1.1 million kg) by 17 April, the company's strongest start to the year in recent memory. The faster uptake is attributed to strong demand in the Norwegian market and improved planning and commercial execution at Meatco.
Nedbank Namibia has received the 2025 straight through processing award from Commerzbank for its efficient cross-border payment services, marking its sixth win of the accolade since 2012. The award recognises correspondent banking partners worldwide that demonstrate outstanding quality in processing commercial payments and financial institution transfers.
The Kia Tasman, available in 4×2 and 4×4 configurations with petrol or diesel engines, has reached Namibian dealerships. The vehicle features ground clearance of 252mm and wading depth of 800mm, with premium cabin features and a starting price of N$679 995.
Namibia sold 1,069 Japanese vehicles in March, making Japan the country's largest vehicle source and driving total March sales to 1,662 units—a 43% monthly increase and the strongest March performance since 2015. Japanese brands accounted for 64.3% of total sales, with commercial vehicle purchases surging 57.1% to a record 916 units, supported by demand from logistics, mining, agriculture, and energy sectors.
Telecom Namibia CEO Stanley Shanapinda apologized for network disruptions that occurred between 15 and 16 April, attributed to international connectivity failures, copper theft, and vandalism. The company is implementing infrastructure upgrades, enhanced security, and collaboration with law enforcement to prevent future outages.
Bank Windhoek has launched a WhatsApp banking service that allows customers to conduct transactions and access services through the messaging platform. The move reflects the bank's commitment to innovation and meeting customers where they communicate, building on its introduction of cellphone banking in 2006.
The Namibian Competition Commission has initiated an investigation against tourism company Ultimate Safaris and three Kunene region conservancies for alleged anti-competition conduct, after the respondents defied a December 2024 cautionary notice to cease the conduct. The case stems from a complaint by a mining claimant seeking to reopen Goantagab Mine within a joint management area that the respondents oppose, citing potential harm to black rhino tourism.
The Namibia Aviation Training Academy, facing funding shortages and outdated equipment, met President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to request government support for capacity-building. The academy warned that without urgent intervention, Namibia risks losing out on developing its own aviation workforce as demand for skilled professionals is expected to grow with the oil and gas sector expansion.
Namibian financial institutions are using artificial intelligence to detect and prevent fraud in electronic fund transfers by monitoring transaction velocity, spending patterns, device fingerprints, and cross-account activity in near real time, enabling banks and law enforcement to be proactive rather than reactive to cybercrime.
Telecom Namibia CEO Dr Stanley Shanapinda apologized for extended fixed and mobile internet service outages on 15–16 April 2026, caused by failure of two high-capacity international links to South Africa. He attributed the extended recovery time to structural vulnerabilities where legacy and modern network systems intersect, and announced plans to accelerate modernization programmes and upgrade border routing infrastructure.
Telecom Namibia is rolling out infrastructure upgrades to strengthen network resilience and modernize systems, including core routing improvements, fixed-mobile convergence, and billing platform modernisation, with projects continuing through early 2027. The company plans to invest more than N$2.3 billion over coming years for fibre-to-the-home expansion, mobile network upgrades to 4.5G and 5G preparation, and improved international connectivity, supported by a N$405 million social loan from RMB Namibia.
The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority board has denied sabotaging or delaying approval of an application by Eagle Aviation Academy director Norman Pule to establish an aerodrome firefighting and aviation training institution. Pule alleges NCAA executive director Toska Sem is orchestrating delays as revenge for his past role as a whistleblower at Namibia Airports Company, where Sem was previously found guilty of serious misconduct; Sem denies the allegations and says the certification process involves five phases normally taking 180 days.
Transport minister Veikko Nekundi has ruled out any extension to the end-of-April 2026 deadline for e-hailing operators to obtain regularisation permits and comply with legal requirements. The minister said operators had more than a year to comply and that those who have applied have already received permits, while temporary permits remain underutilised.
Namibia will access 100% duty-free entry into the Chinese market from 1 May 2026 under a "Pre-Early Harvest" arrangement. The government says the zero-tariff measure will boost industrialisation, strengthen export growth, and enhance Walvis Bay's role as a regional trade hub.
Green Metals Refining has appointed seasoned mining and banking executive Fabian Shaanika to the board of its Namibian subsidiary Kudu Chemicals, which is developing a sulphuric acid plant at Walvis Bay for battery-grade manganese chemical production.
First National Bank Namibia has pledged N$569,202 to the City of Windhoek to advance its smart city policing agenda through installation of advanced surveillance infrastructure, including panoramic cameras and automatic number plate recognition systems in high-priority areas.
The Bank of Namibia's Deputy Governor told the Cirrus Investor Conference that Namibia's economy is expected to strengthen over the medium term, supported by construction and public investment, but structural constraints and regional risks like Foot-and-Mouth Disease require economic diversification and transformation. The central bank is advancing strategic reforms including an Instant Payments Solution to improve financial inclusion and modernize the financial system.
Telecom Namibia confirmed that recent network disruptions were caused by a technical fault on external international connectivity routes, leading to slower speeds and intermittent access. The company's teams responded immediately and implemented corrective measures including traffic redirection and equipment upgrades to restore and stabilize services.
The Namibia Depository Guarantee Fund grew from N$30.3 million in 2024 to N$40.1 million by 31 December 2025, driven by premium contributions of N$6.4 million and portfolio returns that outperformed benchmarks. The fund also increased its coverage limit per depositor from N$25,000 to N$50,000, effective 10 February 2026.
China says it will support Namibian economic development and local processing of natural resources including uranium, according to a joint statement issued after a week-long visit by Namibia's trade minister. Namibia aims to shift from exporting raw materials to China towards processing and manufacturing value-added products locally in sectors such as green hydrogen, mining, and oil and gas.
The Namibia Deposit Guarantee Authority has raised maximum deposit guarantee coverage from N$25,000 to N$50,000 per depositor, broadening protection in the event of commercial bank failure. The move comes as the NDGA Fund grew 32% to N$40 million and amid rising concerns over banking fraud, with Namibians losing N$53 million to fraud in 2025 compared to N$29 million in 2024.
Princess Brand Processing has invested N$3.75 million in an automatic seamer machine for its cannery division, designed to improve hygiene and safety during the canning of pilchards and horse mackerel.
The Namibia Power Corporation successfully listed its N$5-billion domestic medium-term note programme on the Namibia Securities Exchange, in partnership with Cirrus Securities and Nedbank Namibia. The programme allows NamPower to issue a range of notes, including green and sustainable notes, to fund strategic projects while contributing to Namibia's financial sector development.
The 2023 census revised Namibia's population upward to 3.10 million, implying a 3.3% annual growth rate, which means the economy needs more than 3.3% real GDP growth annually just to avoid declining living standards per capita. Mining-led growth masks a weak non-mining economy that has failed to achieve the required 3.3% growth rate in most years since independence, and especially since 2015.
The Bank of Namibia's latest Economic Outlook forecasts domestic GDP growth of 2.6% in 2026 and 2.9% in 2027, moderate expansion supported primarily by construction, electricity, water, retail trade, and financial services, though projections were revised downward due to weaker primary industries performance, particularly metal ores and diamond mining.