Namibia Minute.
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

African Continental Free Trade Area

Also known as: African Continental Free Trade Area agreement · AfCFTA

2022-09-162026-07-23
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. July 2026

  2. The Namibian

    African Continental Free Trade Area referenced as framework for regional value chains to create jobs and reduce poverty

    Source

    “The president urged governments to maintain policy certainty and investor-friendly environments while encouraging businesses to invest in technology, skills development and regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area to create jobs and reduce poverty.”

    Nandi-Ndaitwah pushes for Namibia-SA industrial shift

  3. Windhoek Observer

    AfCFTA has a Protocol on Digital Trade that Nigeria became first State Party to secure parliamentary approval for ratification of

    Source

    “His remarks came as Nigeria became the first State Party to secure parliamentary approval for the ratification of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, a landmark decision that places Africa's largest economy firmly on the path towards a continent-wide digital marketplace.”

    TURNING POINT | Namibia must stop waiting. Digital Trade will not wait for us.
  4. June 2026

  5. Windhoek Observer

    African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) changes the equation for regional integration

    Source

    “The emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) also changes the equation.”

    SACU at a crossroads: Namibia must look beyond revenue to regional competitiveness

  6. Informanté

    African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is presented as an opportunity for discussion at the summit

    Source

    “The meeting will also consider progress in areas such as industrialisation, regional value chains, customs modernisation, trade facilitation, investment promotion and opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”

    President Nandi-Ndaitwah to attend SACU Heads of State Summit
  7. May 2026

  8. The Namibian

    African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents the most ambitious economic project this continent has ever attempted

    Source

    “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents the most ambitious economic project this continent has ever attempted.”

    Africa Day is a call to business, not just governments

  9. The Namibian

    African Continental Free Trade Area is flagship project of African Union's Agenda 2063

    Source

    “The AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects of the African Union's Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.”

    Swakop expo to unlock African trade

  10. Informanté

    African Continental Free Trade Area offers African countries opportunity to transform continent into integrated market

    Source

    “She noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area offers African countries an opportunity to transform the continent into an integrated market driven by industrialisation, innovation, value addition and intra-African trade.”

    Witbooi calls for stronger Namibia-Kenya economic partnerships

  11. The Namibian

    The African Continental Free Trade Area offers a major opportunity to transform Africa into an integrated market

    Source

    “Witbooi said the African Continental Free Trade Area offers a major opportunity to transform Africa into an integrated market, driven by industrialisation, innovation, value addition and intra-Africa trade.”

    Vice president calls for Africa to trade more with itself

  12. Informanté

    African Continental Free Trade Area is noted to be strengthened by the summit's engagement opportunities for African countries

    Source

    “She emphasised the summit's continental relevance, noting that it offers African countries a chance to engage more deliberately, identify opportunities for cooperation, and strengthen the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

    African Green Industries Summit scheduled for September in Swakopmund
  13. April 2026

  14. New Era

    African Continental Free Trade Area provides opportunities for companies to reach wider markets from Namibia

    Source

    “She said infrastructure such as the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, as well as trade agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), provide opportunities for companies to reach wider markets from Namibia.”

    Namibia urges local Chinese investment
Business

Nandi-Ndaitwah urges Namibia-SA shift to manufacturing and value addition

The News

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for Namibia and South Africa to move beyond their traditional trade relationship—where Namibia exports raw materials and South Africa supplies finished goods—by investing in industrialisation, value addition and regional manufacturing to create jobs and drive economic growth. She highlighted investment opportunities in agriculture, mining, energy, oil and gas, tourism, fisheries, and green hydrogen.

21 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Nandi-Ndaitwah urges Namibia-SA shift to manufacturing and value addition

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for Namibia and South Africa to move beyond their traditional trade relationship—where Namibia exports raw materials and South Africa supplies finished goods—by investing in industrialisation, value addition and regional manufacturing to create jobs and drive economic growth. She highlighted investment opportunities in agriculture, mining, energy, oil and gas, tourism, fisheries, and green hydrogen.

    21 July 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Nandi-Ndaitwah urges Namibia-SA industrialisation over raw material trade

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for Namibia and South Africa to move beyond their current trade pattern, where Namibia exports raw materials and imports finished goods, toward greater industrialisation, value addition and regional manufacturing to create jobs and drive economic growth. She highlighted investment opportunities in agriculture, mining, energy, oil and gas, tourism, fisheries, transport and logistics.

    21 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 July

  1. Zambia invests K4.9 billion to upgrade key Namibia trade corridor

    Zambia has signed contracts worth K4.9 billion (about N$4.3 billion) to rehabilitate the Livingstone-Sesheke Road, a strategic transport corridor linking the country to Namibia through the Trans Caprivi Corridor and Port of Walvis Bay. The project, now in the implementation stage with contractors mobilised to site, is expected to boost regional trade, tourism, and cross-border connectivity.

    15 July 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 12 July

  1. Lobito Corridor railway project focuses on DRC mineral exports

    The Lobito Corridor railway, linking mineral-rich DRC regions to Angola's port, is a key development focus for Angola, DRC, Zambia and partners including the US, which committed US$200 billion for infrastructure and pledged to mobilise an additional US$600 billion. The DRC's untapped mineral deposits are valued at over US$24 trillion.

    12 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 July

  1. President urges Chinese investors to build manufacturing in Namibia

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Chinese investors to partner with Namibia in building processing industries and creating jobs, saying the country must move beyond exporting raw minerals towards investment, industrialisation, manufacturing and technology transfer. She said Namibia's mineral deposits including uranium, diamonds, lithium, copper and rare earth minerals must be used to create greater economic benefits for Namibians.

    10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 9 July

  1. President urges Namibian businesses to pursue China investment opportunities

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Namibian businesses to leverage strengthened ties with China to pursue investment, manufacturing, and value-addition opportunities that can create jobs and support economic transformation. Speaking at the Namibia-China Business Forum in Beijing during a state visit, she urged companies to build strategic partnerships with Chinese counterparts and emphasised moving beyond raw material exports to focus on projects generating greater economic value.

    9 July 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Namibia urges Chinese investors to add value, not extract

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told the Namibia-China Business Forum in Beijing that Namibia seeks partnerships focused on processing plants, manufacturing, and technology transfer rather than raw material extraction. She said local beneficiation is a government priority given Namibia's mineral wealth, high unemployment, and poverty, and invited Chinese investment in processing facilities, renewable energy, agriculture, and digital infrastructure.

    9 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 8 July

  1. Namibia records N$1.5bn trade surplus with China in May

    Namibia recorded its largest trade surplus with China in May at N$1.5 billion, placing China ahead of Botswana and Canada as Namibia's most favourable trading partner that month. Despite an overall trade deficit of N$3.1 billion, exports of uranium, fish, gold and diamonds helped cushion rising import costs.

    8 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 6 July

  1. Namibia must ratify AfCFTA digital trade protocol

    An opinion piece argues that Namibia should move decisively to ratify and implement the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, as Nigeria becomes the first State Party to secure parliamentary approval and Africa's digital economy becomes an immediate economic priority rather than a future aspiration.

    6 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 1 July

  1. More than 100 Namibians seek repatriation from South Africa

    More than 100 Namibians living in South Africa are voluntarily seeking repatriation to Namibia amid rising xenophobic tensions; Namibian authorities are arranging repatriation and verification processes following reports of attacks on foreign nationals.

    1 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 29 June

  1. SACU leaders approve R5 billion regional development fund

    Southern African Customs Union leaders, including President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, have approved establishment of a R5 billion regional development fund to finance cross-border industrial and infrastructure projects across all five member states. The fund will be financed from the SACU Common Revenue Pool during the 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years.

    29 June 2026 · New Era →

  2. SACU revenue crucial but Namibia must strengthen regional competitiveness

    SACU has been a significant economic pillar for Namibia since independence, with annual customs revenue supporting education, healthcare, and infrastructure. However, as global trade patterns shift and powerful economies pursue bilateral agreements with individual African nations, SACU members face pressure to maintain collective negotiating strength and adapt to ensure regional competitiveness beyond revenue dependency.

    29 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 26 June

  1. President Nandi-Ndaitwah attends 9th SACU Summit in Cape Town

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has arrived in Cape Town to participate in the 9th Southern African Customs Union Summit of Heads of State and Government, where regional leaders from Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa will discuss economic integration, industrial development, trade cooperation, and the implementation of the SACU Strategic Plan (2022–2027).

    26 June 2026 · Informanté →

  2. President Nandi-Ndaitwah to attend SACU summit in Cape Town

    President Nandi-Ndaitwah will participate in the 9th SACU Summit of Heads of State and Government on 26 June 2026 in Cape Town, where leaders from the five member states will discuss regional economic integration, industrial development, trade cooperation, and implementation of the SACU Strategic Plan.

    26 June 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 21 June

  1. Namibia, Tanzania urged to deepen trade ties

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for Namibia and Tanzania to strengthen economic cooperation beyond their political friendship, urging governments and the private sector to drive industrialisation, investment, and intra-African trade. During a State Visit to Tanzania, she held bilateral talks with President Samia Suluhu Hassan on trade, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, and regional integration.

    21 June 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 14 June

  1. Bus hijacked in Johannesburg, Namibians stranded, IPC criticizes government

    A Namibian-registered bus was hijacked in Johannesburg on 9 June, leaving passengers stranded; the Independent Patriots for Change accused the government and High Commission in Pretoria of failing to provide meaningful assistance to the operator and passengers, some of whom had to pay for their own accommodation.

    14 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 11 June

  1. Namibia identified with N$14.5 billion manufacturing opportunity

    Simonis Storm analysis shows Namibia could unlock approximately N$14.5 billion in new manufacturing and value-addition activities, citing a trade deficit of N$4.4 billion and identifying 353 products across 23 sectors that the country could potentially manufacture using existing capabilities.

    11 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 29 May

  1. President calls for agriculture investment, rural development

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for urgent investment in agriculture, rural development and youth participation in farming, emphasizing that economic transformation depends on modernising agriculture while preserving cultural identity. She said the Omaludi Agricultural Festival demonstrates how agriculture and tourism can work together to create economic opportunities for local communities.

    29 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 27 May

  1. President urges development that preserves Namibia's cultural identity

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said at the 2026 Omaludi Agricultural Festival that Namibia must pursue development without abandoning its cultural identity, noting that festivals promote agriculture, tourism and local economic growth while preserving traditions. She urged farmers in northern communal areas to transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture through improved infrastructure, financing and market access.

    27 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 25 May

  1. Namibia joins Africa Day calls for continental unity

    Namibia marked Africa Day with renewed calls for continental unity and self-reliance. President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that African nations face economic disruptions, climate change, disease outbreaks and geopolitical uncertainty, and urged strengthening regional cooperation, intra-African trade, and investment in local institutions.

    25 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 22 May

  1. Africa Day calls business to address water and trade needs

    An opinion piece argues that Africa Day should prompt businesses, not just governments, to engage with the continent's development priorities, particularly water security—critical to food, health, and industry—and the African Continental Free Trade Area's goal of intra-African trade.

    22 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Swakopmund to host Africa trade conference and expo

    Swakopmund will host the Africa Economic Leadership Council conference and expo from 28 to 30 May to promote domestic investment and intra-African trade opportunities under the theme 'Unpacking the AfCFTA and Access to Markets'. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and African Continental Free Trade Area secretary general Wamkele Mene are expected as guests of honour, with about 100 exhibitors and 200 delegates anticipated.

    20 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibia drops to 94th in global startup rankings

    Namibia has dropped nine places to 94th globally and slipped from 8th to 10th in Africa in the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, with annual ecosystem growth of 8.2% falling below the global average. The country retained its position as southern Africa's second-ranked startup ecosystem behind South Africa, and Windhoek remains its only city ranked in the world's top 1,000 startup ecosystems.

    20 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 14 May

  1. Vice President Witbooi urges stronger Namibia-Kenya economic ties

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi called for strengthened partnerships between Namibia and Kenya, citing Kenya's strengths in innovation and fintech and Namibia's political stability, natural resources, and infrastructure as complementary assets for industrial growth and regional value chains. She also stressed the need for African economies to trade more internally rather than relying on external markets.

    14 May 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 13 May

  1. Vice President urges Africa to increase intra-continental trade

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi called for stronger economic cooperation between African countries, saying African economies have traded more with the rest of the world than with one another. She urged businesses and governments to work together to drive industrialisation, innovation and intra-Africa trade, citing the African Continental Free Trade Area as a major opportunity to transform Africa into an integrated market.

    13 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 9 May

  1. African Green Industries Summit planned for Swakopmund in September 2026

    The African Green Industries Summit (AGIS) 2026 will be held 9–10 September in Swakopmund under the theme "Powering African Industries for Sustainable Development," bringing together investors, policymakers, and technology providers to discuss renewable energy, green hydrogen, critical minerals, and sustainable manufacturing.

    9 May 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 8 May

  1. Namibia and Botswana to establish joint national airline

    Namibia and Botswana plan to launch a joint national airline by the end of this year, with Ethiopian Airlines as a strategic partner. The airline aims to create roughly 700 direct jobs and 500 indirect jobs, starting with domestic routes before expanding to regional and international markets.

    8 May 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 29 April

  1. Namibia set to become southern Africa's cheaper fuel supplier

    Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is building a 2,000km fuel pipeline from Walvis Bay through Botswana to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, with backing from the African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) for a US$3-billion facility. A tank farm at Walvis Bay will enable Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia to obtain fuel from Namibia at a lower cost than current sources.

    29 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 25 April

  1. Africa Economic Leadership Council to host trade expo at Swakopmund

    The Africa Economic Leadership Council will hold a three-day Invest in Africa Trade Expo and business summit in Swakopmund from 28 to 30 May, aiming to connect African entrepreneurs and businesses and unpack opportunities in sectors including oil and gas, natural resources, and minerals beneficiation as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

    25 April 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Afreximbank offers AfCFTA training for Namibian businesses

    Namibian businesses are being targeted for African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) training through the Africa-Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which will take place in Egypt in June and is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to participate in intra-African trade.

    25 April 2026 · The Namibian →

African Continental Free Trade Area — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute