The Beira Corridor Forum 2026, convened by Companhia do Pipeline Moçambique-Zimbabwe (CPMZ), issued a call for stronger regional cooperation, coordinated infrastructure investment and strategic partnerships to strengthen fuel security and support economic growth across southern Africa. Taking place in Livingstone, Zambia, on 27 October, the forum brought together government representatives, policymakers, regulators, investors, financial institutions, infrastructure operators and industry leaders to examine the Beira Corridor’s strategic role in supplying fuel to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Discussions focused on strengthening the corridor’s competitiveness, diversifying regional fuel supply routes, and ensuring that infrastructure development translates into tangible economic benefits for the markets it serves. A central focus was the pipeline company’s ongoing expansion of the Beira–Feruka pipeline, which will increase annual transportation capacity from three million to five million cubic metres by December 2027. The investment includes two additional pumping stations...

Continued conflict in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province poses a major risk to moving assets in the country’s oil and gas industry. To overcome this threat, a Namibian company recently moved bulk equipment from Walvis Bay to Cabo Delgado, over land across multiple jurisdictions, over thousands of kilometres and through several border posts. Announcing this major achievement, Africa Global Logistics (AGL) Namibia and Right Equipped Solutions (RES) announced that they have successfully delivered specialised dry bulk equipment from Namibia to an oil and gas support facility in Pemba, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. “The journey crossed multiple countries, border posts and customs regimes, and the equipment arrived on schedule, in full compliance and without disruption to the client’s operational timeline.” The two partner companies stated that the delivery demonstrates what an integrated logistics network, deep regional experience and the right equipment partners can achieve together, at a time when oil and gas ambitions...

The Bank of Namibia on Friday introduced new policy directives to cushion the agricultural sector against severe economic pressures caused by recent Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks and El Niño-induced drought conditions. The central bank issued the Determination on Policy Changes in Response to Economic and Financial Stability Challenges (BID-42) following consultations between representatives from the agricultural and commercial banking sectors. The new determination specifically addresses the needs of financially distressed farm owners and agricultural businesses struggling to service their loans. Through this measure, the Bank seeks to support the continued viability of the agricultural sector, preserve livelihoods, and mitigate potential risks to the broader financial system arising from the combined impacts of the FMD and adverse climatic conditions The central bank in a statement, said by introducing BID-42, the Bank reaffirms its commitment to fostering a resilient financial sector that can effectively respond to emerging economic challenges while supporting productive...

The Swakop Basin Collective Action Project, a five-year initiative focused on boosting water security and climate resilience, was launched this week, as Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF Namibia), and the Global Water Challenge (GWC) formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement. Also known as the NBL Water Balancing Project, the initiative brings together government, civil society and the private sector to address shared water challenges and strengthen water security and climate resilience in the Swakop River Basin. “Our ambition is to lead by example in water stewardship, inside our brewery and beyond. Since 2015, we have invested more than N$35 million in reducing our own water footprint and have increased our water efficiency by 30% since 2024,” Waldemar von Lieres, Managing Director, Namibia Breweries Limited, said in a joint statement. Backed by an investment of approximately N$13 million, the project (2026-2030) will be implemented by WWF Namibia...

Fourteen local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), representing each region, were awarded grant funding totaling N$1.1 million at the inaugural SME Fund Chelete Cage Pitch Event held in Windhoek this week. The event marked the culmination of the SME Fund’s first funding cycle. The initial call for applications, which ran from 10 June to 24 July, generated massive interest nationwide, attracting nearly 900 applications. About 22% of the applications came from MSMEs in the agriculture & agro-processing industry; the ICT & Manufacturing industries both accounted for 11% of all applications, while 10% of applications were from the Tourism industry. 5% of the applications were from the Culture & Creative Industries. The shortlisted businesses pitched to a panel of judges from the Environmental Investment Fund, Bank of Namibia, Agribank Namibia, Development Bank of Namibia and the National Youth Development Fund for grants of between N$65,000 and N$100,000. The SME Fund...

The Blue Growth Series has just delivered another large contingent of programme graduates ready to apply their newly acquired entrepreneurial skills in a range of small and medium businesses. The series, now in its second year, produced 68 graduates this year, building on the 40 that completed the course last year. The Blue Growth Series is a business development partnership between Stand Bank Namibia and the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy. The programme focuses on equipping entrepreneurs with the practical tools needed to strengthen business performance, improve investment readiness and unlock new market opportunities. A significant feature of the programme is its deliberate focus on connecting entrepreneurs with both markets and capital. Through these interventions, participating businesses are better positioned to secure opportunities for growth while building the systems and financial records required to access funding. Standard Bank’s Executive Officer for Business and Commercial Banking said the programme reflects the...

By Joppie Maritz, Managing Director, Stage Audio Works Namibia. * Namibia has set itself a clear digital direction. The Sixth National Development Plan has set the target to digitise all government services by 2030 and to more than double the ICT sector’s share of the economy, from 1.6% in 2024 to 4%. The networks are being built to carry it. In September last year, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) reported N$1.2 billion of investment in the ICT sector over the previous twelve months. CRAN’s latest quarterly figures show ICT sector revenue up 12% between April and June this year. Organisations are following with investment of their own. I see it most in boardrooms moving to hybrid meetings. Ten years ago a boardroom had a projector. Today clients ask for video conferencing as the most important item in the room. Council chambers are going paperless. Lecture halls stream to...

Namibia has established contractors with substantial technical expertise, experience and resources, said the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) in response to a remark by the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon Veikko Nekundi, that only three or four local contractors have the capacity to execute major construction projects, and that their capacity is still limited. Speaking on behalf of the Federation, its Chief Executive, Bärbel Kirchner said the CIF considers the minister’s assessment a damaging generalisation that fails to distinguish between construction competence and the conditions imposed through procurement. Namibia’s construction sector includes emerging businesses requiring development support alongside established contractors with extensive project experience. Their circumstances and capabilities must be assessed separately, the Federation stated. “Financial qualification must also be distinguished from technical competence. Historical turnover thresholds, guarantees and financing requirements can exclude businesses that possess the expertise to execute the work. After years of recession, reduced turnover...

Climate Fund Managers announced it has secured approval for US$140 million in catalytic financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for Climate Investor Three (CI3), its global blended finance facility focused on industrial decarbonisation, like green hydrogen infrastructure in southern Africa. Investments in Namibia will cover hydrogen production, downstream derivatives such as green ammonia and green methanol, and the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries. Its diversified portfolio approach allows CI3 to invest across renewable energy generation, production, transport and end-use infrastructure, supporting the development of integrated industrial value chains. In Namibia, CI3 invests through the SDG Namibia One Fund (SDG Namibia One). Of the total approved financing, US$56 million will be allocated to SDG Namibia One, comprising US$15 million for its Development Tranche and US$41 million for its Construction Equity Tranche. The GCF financing will be provided under the Southern African Industrial Decarbonisation Facility (SIDF), GCF’s first platform dedicated to decarbonising...

Trade, industrialization, and institutional cooperation took centre stage at the China-Africa Cooperation Symposium, where key stakeholders gathered to explore strategies for deepening economic relations between China, Namibia, and the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Held under the theme “China-Africa Partnership at 70: Deepening Collaboration and Exchanges,” the event focused on translating shared development priorities into concrete commercial and economic outcomes. The symposium was hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Embassy of China in Namibia and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). The opening session featured welcome remarks and keynote addresses that set the context for discussions on China-Africa relations and opportunities for cooperation under the China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development (CADEPA) and China’s Zero-Tariff agreement. The symposium brought together a focused, diverse group of stakeholders to ensure meaningful dialogue and actionable outcomes, including representatives from Namibian government ministries and...