Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Organization

African Continental Free Trade Area

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

Continental trade framework that Namibia and other African nations use to facilitate cross-border commerce and economic integration.

Business

Government plans Hosea Kutako airport expansion including third terminal

The News

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.

Why it matters

The airport expansion positions Namibia as a regional aviation hub and will increase capacity to handle growing international travel and cargo demand, supporting trade, tourism, and the country's integration into regional and continental trade frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area.

22 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 22 April

  1. Government plans Hosea Kutako airport expansion including third terminal

    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.

    22 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Namibia urges Chinese investors to process minerals locally

    International Relations Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi has called on Chinese investors to move beyond buying raw materials and instead invest in local industries such as minerals processing, agriculture, and manufacturing to help reduce Namibia's persistent trade deficit and create jobs. The minister noted that Namibia exports minerals including uranium and copper to China while importing manufactured goods, and stressed that adding value to resources locally is critical for closing the trade gap and creating economic benefits.

    15 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 14 April

  1. South Africa's $11 billion Afreximbank deal deepens African trade

    South Africa's accession to the African Export-Import Bank as its 54th member brings a $11 billion commitment to transform Africa's trade architecture through mineral processing, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure investment. The move positions the continent to retain value in raw materials and access global trade frameworks rather than exporting unprocessed minerals.

    14 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 13 April

  1. African airlines record 21% cargo growth in February 2026

    African airlines are the fastest-growing region in global air cargo, recording 21% year-on-year demand increase in February 2026, with the Africa-Asia route showing particularly strong growth of 61.9%. Despite the momentum, Africa remains a small player at 2.1% of the global market, facing challenges including limited airport infrastructure and high operational costs.

    13 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 9 April

  1. President delivers 2026 state of nation address to Parliament

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered the 2026 state of the nation address on 8 April, outlining government progress on economic growth, human development, environmental sustainability, and governance. The address highlighted achievements including GDP growth projection of 3.1%, 130,000 new jobs registered, major investments in mining and renewable energy, and sectoral initiatives in agriculture, education, health, housing, and sports aligned with the sixth national development plan and Vision 2030.

    9 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 April

  1. Namibia prioritizes economic diplomacy with N$952m to foreign missions

    Namibia is repositioning its foreign policy to compete in a world where economic strength defines global standing, with 69.5% of the International Relations and Trade Ministry's N$1.37 billion budget allocated to foreign missions. Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi warned of emerging "electro state nations" and called for diplomatic missions to act as economic engines protecting national interests amid global instability and competition over critical minerals and technology.

    2 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Namibia and Russia open 11th trade cooperation session

    Minister of International Relations Selma Ashipala-Musavyi welcomed Russian officials to Windhoek for the 11th session of the Namibia–Russia intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, highlighting a new business forum and potential joint ventures in agriculture, fertiliser manufacturing, and mining.

    26 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Namibia launches Walvis Bay corridor secretariat in April

    Namibia will operationalise the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor secretariat on 1 April to strengthen regional trade and improve cross-border transport with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The move includes introducing a user pay principle levy of 90 cents per tonne on cross-border cargo and addressing infrastructure gaps and regulatory harmonisation challenges.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

  1. Namibia and Botswana plan 'no-stop' border posts

    Presidents Nandi-Ndaitwah and Duma Boko discussed implementing no-stop border posts to facilitate seamless trade and movement of people, aiming to boost intra-Africa trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area. The countries plan to collaborate on trade, tourism, infrastructure, natural resources, and logistics, with Namibia positioning Walvis Bay as a regional gateway.

    23 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 22 March

  1. Botswana's president visits Namibia to boost trade and bilateral ties

    Botswana President Duma Boko visited Namibia to discuss strengthening trade relations and bilateral cooperation with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, including plans for a joint oil refinery and modernizing border crossings to facilitate seamless movement of goods and people.

    22 March 2026 · The Namibian →

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