The City of Windhoek is working with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) to promote the ease of doing business in the country and the city.
Ease of doing business refers to the degree of simplicity, efficiency and transparency within the regulatory and administrative environment that businesses operate within.
It indicates how conducive a country or region is for starting, operating and growing a business.
“The ease of doing business can have a significant impact on a country or city’s economic competitiveness and its ability to attract investment and encourage entrepreneurship. Nations, regions and cities that score well in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings are typically seen as more favourable for business development and attractive to investment,” the City of Windhoek’s CEO, Moses Matyayi, said earlier this month.
“We recognise that fostering economic growth and development goes hand in hand with facilitating effective bottom-up dialogue and information sharing between the City of Windhoek and business representative organisations, professional associations, institutions of higher education, state agencies and our development partners.”
He said collaboration is key to the achievement of the economic goals of the city, and creating a prosperous and sustainable future for all residents.
Meanwhile, in a recent address at the seventh Windhoek Mayoral Business Forum, the city’s mayor, Joseph Uapingene, highlighted the need for improved safety and security in the city to safeguard its residents, businesses and overall prosperity.
“We recognise that safety is not just about reducing crime. It is also an integral element that contributes to economic development, and it involves law enforcement, prevention measures, ensuring the security of our infrastructure and providing effective emergency services,” Uapingene said.
This comes at a time when property crimes, such as theft and burglary, are on the rise, leading to financial losses and a heightened sense of insecurity within the community.
He highlighted that while violent crimes remain comparatively rare, they have a substantial impact on those affected.
Moreover, Windhoek has experienced a surge in cyber threats, including online fraud, identity theft, hacking and phishing schemes.
“Law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity experts have been working tirelessly to combat these evolving challenges, but the battle against cybercrime continues,” he said.
Uapingene stressed the need for a balanced approach to ensure public safety, which includes strengthening community policing, addressing social determinants of crime, and fostering collaboration among law enforcement agencies, businesses and the community.
