Also known as: Bipa · Business and Intellectual Property (Bipa) One Stop Centre
Business and Intellectual Property Authority — Namibian government body managing intellectual property, business registration, cultural funds, and one-stop service centers for ease of doing business.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
New Era
Business and Intellectual Property Authority is working with authorities to finalise copyright regulations
“Authorities are working with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) to finalise the regulations, with support from Unesco.”
Artists call for fairness in the NAMAsThe Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority is questioned whether its Act offers enough protection to traders
“We must ask whether the Business and Intellectual Property Authority Act and the Competition Act offer enough protection to traders.”
Copyright And Competition: Whose Burden?The Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority hosted a workshop on the draft copyright bill in Windhoek
“Shitana raised the issue during a recent workshop on the draft copyright bill, hosted by the Business and Intellectual Property Authority in Windhoek.”
Nascam defends N$2 royalty ratesThe Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) signed an agreement to support the EntreprenHER programme
“The ministry and the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) yesterday also signed an agreement to support the programme.”
Gender ministry empowers1 485 women through skillsThe Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority signed an agreement to support the programme
“The ministry and the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) on Thursday signed an agreement to support the programme.”
Gender ministry empowers 1 485 womenThe Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority says Leobeer Estates Fifteen CC is 100% owned by Hatuikulipi
“The Business and Intellectual Property Authority says the company is 100% owned by Hatuikulipi.”
Fishrot accused Tamson Hatuikulipi’s N$4.5 million Windhoek mansion falls into ruinThe Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority announced mass deregistration of about 137,000 businesses for non-compliance
“Last year, the Business and Intellectual Property Authority announced the mass deregistration of about 137 000 businesses if they fail to comply with beneficial ownership requirements.”
Namibia on track to exit greylistThe Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) is responsible for safeguarding the integrity of Namibia's business and intellectual property records through continuous compliance monitoring Namibia's business and intellectual property records
“As the custodian of Namibia's business and intellectual property records, the authority is responsible for safeguarding its integrity through continuous compliance monitoring, stakeholder engagement and awareness initiatives.”
Sustaining Business Legitimacy in NamibiaThe Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority created as stand-alone agency allowing adoption of more modern mindsets with private-sector management teams
“Some progress has occurred where government created stand-alone agencies outside the restrictive influence of ministries – such as the Namibia Revenue Agency and Business and Intellectual Property Authority – allowing them to adopt more modern mindsets, supported by management teams drawn from the private sector.”
Why Bureaucrats Should Stay Out of BusinessThe Namibian
Business and Intellectual Property Authority operates One Stop Centre from headquarters relocated to former SME Bank building
“The centre operates from Bipa's headquarters, which relocated to the former SME Bank building in Ausspannplatz in July 2025.”
President Nandi-Ndaitwah urges faster investor responses at Bipa One Stop CentreThe Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has launched a new employment permit valid for up to five years, effective immediately, to make Namibia more attractive to investors and improve the investment climate by reducing administrative barriers.
5 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has launched a new employment permit valid for up to five years, effective immediately, to make Namibia more attractive to investors and improve the investment climate by reducing administrative barriers.
5 September 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's home affairs ministry has introduced the Employment Permit to Conduct Business, effective 1 September 2026, to simplify investor approval and reduce administrative barriers. The new permit, valid for up to five years compared to the standard two-year permit, is intended for qualifying investors whose status has been confirmed by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board.
20 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Businesses and workers face potential financial pressure over compulsory contributions under a planned national pension fund. Employers warn that the contributions could squeeze struggling small businesses and reduce take-home pay for low-income employees, with concerns that adding another statutory obligation could discourage hiring.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Tsumkwe constituency councillor Petrus Mutji is advocating for agricultural schemes in the area to reduce residents' reliance on government and generate income. He is also calling for a vocational training centre and a business registration service in the settlement.
6 August 2026 · The Namibian →
FNB Namibia organized an SME Financial Literacy Day in Ongwediva bringing together entrepreneurs, government regulators and business leaders to help small and medium enterprises strengthen financial resilience through knowledge of credit, cash flow, tax compliance, regulatory requirements and risk management.
28 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's proposed copyright and related rights protection bill would fund a cultural fund by levying physical storage devices and copying services, but exempts online platforms and streaming services where music is primarily stored and shared. The bill establishes a cultural fund managed by the Business and Intellectual Property Authority, financed through levies on imported or locally manufactured digital storage devices and commercial copying services.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Business and Intellectual Property Authority and the Namibia Public Workers' Union signed a wage agreement for the 2026/27 financial year, providing for a salary adjustment effective from 1 April and introducing employer contributions towards employees' medical aid for the first time.
24 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Yambuka Housing, a new Namibian-owned company, has launched prefabricated homes ranging between N$120,000 and N$190,000 that can be assembled within seven days, positioning the model as an alternative to informal settlements. The company says it offers locally manufactured units on a 32-square-metre and 43-square-metre basis, though its financing mechanism is still under development.
23 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibian reports that Namibia's traditional music communities are systematically excluded from commercial benefits when their ancestral songs and rituals are recorded and licensed by outsiders, receiving minimal compensation while those with recording equipment profit from their heritage.
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A musician argues that Namibian performers recorded by the South West African Broadcasting Corporation before independence received no payment for their work and continue to receive nothing, since the broadcaster failed to properly document their names and details, leaving royalties uncollected when recordings are logged as 'unknown' in the Nascam system.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A two-year Nascam-UNESCO partnership will invest N$1.7 million into research, copyright reform, and digital innovation in Namibia's music industry. The initiative will map the music sector across all 14 regions, establish a national evidence base, develop an online copyright platform, and support copyright education and policy dialogue.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Institute of Public Policy Research has released its procurement tracker and called for an in-depth investigation into healthcare sector procurement, describing it as a persistent governance challenge. Research shows corruption in the sector has been ongoing for a decade, and the IPPR notes that key laws including the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 and the Access to Information Act of 2022 have been passed but not implemented.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Independent Patriots for Change says Namibia must make beneficial ownership information public following the country's removal from the Financial Action Task Force's greylist. Shadow minister Rodney Cloete states that while Namibia corrected gaps in beneficial ownership transparency to exit the greylist, the register remains effectively closed to journalists and the public through the Business and Intellectual Property Authority.
20 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Charmaine Gous, a former accountant at Pepe Construction Lodge Builder & Outdoor Decking, appeared in Windhoek Magistrate's Court accused of defrauding the company of N$3.5 million. She is out on bail and the matter has been postponed to 11 August 2026 to allow the State to finalise investigations.
29 May 2026 · Informanté →
PIS Security Services has filed a review application at the High Court challenging a N$40 million three-year security contract awarded to Novo Security Services CC in October 2025, alleging that eight active Namibian police officers were falsely presented as employees and managers of Novo in its bid.
20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Wealth Management Solutions, a Windhoek financial advisory firm, has applied for voluntary liquidation after losing money in foreign exchange trading, with clients fearing millions in losses. The firm collected funds from Namibian investors and pensioners for forex investments and had placed N$17 million with IJG Securities, which says those funds are safe.
17 May 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah visited the Business and Intellectual Property Authority One-Stop Service Centre to assess operational progress and efforts to improve ease of doing business in Namibia. She expressed satisfaction with progress and emphasised the centre's role in reducing administrative bottlenecks and creating a conducive business environment.
16 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) has announced appointments of Diana Katjiuongua as head of strategy and projects (effective 1 April), Matheus Iiyambula as FinTech specialist (effective 1 March), and one other senior official to strengthen its strategy, technology and financial innovation functions.
12 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has been allocated N$417.2 million for the 2026/2027 financial year to advance gender equity, child protection, and women's economic empowerment across Namibia. In the past year, the ministry supported 347 survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking, accommodated 329 street children in boarding schools, and expanded early childhood development enrolment from 110,726 to 126,213 across the country.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tracey Goagoses, recently appointed as an accounting assistant intern at the Namibian Estate Agent Board, is gaining experience in finance and bookkeeping while pursuing her goal of becoming a chartered accountant.
2 April 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Namibia has strong policies and youth development programmes, but slow implementation and bureaucratic delays undermine entrepreneurship and economic growth. The author argues for digitisation, clearer timelines, and faster regulatory processes—not deregulation—to match the pace of modern business and unlock economic opportunity.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian artists have called for fair prize structures, better professional support, and financial literacy training as the government consults on reviving the Namibia Annual Music Awards, which were discontinued in 2020. The Arts Directorate is also advancing an updated copyright law to protect musicians and other creatives in the digital age.
23 March 2026 · New Era →
The Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Namibia faces governance risks as it prepares for oil production, citing lack of transparency in petroleum licensing, insufficient beneficial ownership disclosure, and weak local content oversight as key areas needing reform before the expected investment decisions from TotalEnergies and Mopane projects. Addressing these challenges through the Access to Information Act and digital transparency could help Namibia avoid the "resource curse" while ensuring oil revenues benefit communities rather than political elites.
16 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Copyright infringement and trademark abuse are widespread in Namibia despite legal protections, with artists replicating songs without permission and businesses using deceptive marks to mislead consumers. The author argues that existing laws are inadequately enforced and that victims lack affordable remedies, leaving them to bear costly legal action.
8 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music has defended its royalty distribution system after a parliament member questioned reports of local musicians earning as little as N$2 per broadcast play. Nascam says the figure is not a fixed rate but is calculated based on total royalties collected from music users and distributed through an automated system, though it acknowledges a need to amend legislation to better address digital platforms and online usage.
2 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian musicians earn as little as N$2 per broadcast play, a rate unchanged since independence, according to MP Frederick Shitana. He called for a national International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) system to help local artists earn from digital platforms and said Namibia's reliance on South Africa for ISRC registration disadvantages creators.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has empowered 1,485 women with entrepreneurial skills through the EntreprenHER programme, funded by UN Women, which provides digital and financial literacy training to support women micro-entrepreneurs. The programme, now in its third phase across Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, has supported over 2,400 women-owned micro-enterprises, with the ministry now exploring partnerships to advance to phase four.
24 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has empowered 1,485 women in entrepreneurial skills via the EntreprenHER programme, which provides digital and financial literacy training and market access support. The UN-funded initiative, now in phase 3, has supported over 2,400 micro-enterprises across Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, with the ministry exploring partnerships for further expansion.
20 February 2026 · The Namibian →
An unfinished N$4.5 million house in Windhoek owned by Fishrot-accused Tamson Hatuikulipi is falling into disrepair, with structural damage and stolen materials, while court-appointed curators consider how to preserve the property's value under a 2020 asset restraint order related to the corruption case.
20 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has met all requirements to exit the Financial Action Task Force greylist following a plenary meeting in February, with the FATF accepting that the country has remedied all 13 deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework. An on-site assessment is scheduled for April, with results to be presented at the June FATF meeting.
17 February 2026 · The Namibian →