The Namibian Standards Institute (NSI) has received laboratory equipment worth approximately N$13.5 million from the European Union (EU) to enhance its Testing, Inspection, and Metrology laboratories in Walvis Bay, Windhoek, and Lüderitz.
The donation is part of the N$117 million (€6 million) Programme to Support the EPA Implementation Plan in Namibia, an initiative aimed at maximizing the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in 2016 between the EU and six Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations.
The agreement grants Namibian exports duty- and quota-free access to the EU market.
NSI CEO Eino Mvula welcomed the equipment, emphasizing its role in facilitating Namibian products’ access to international markets.
“The Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) is appreciative to receive analytical and measurement equipment to the value of EURO 695,670 from the EU. This equipment will be used by the NSI in executing its role in facilitating access for Namibian products to export markets, with a specific focus on trade with the European Union, by strengthening the capacity of the NSI Testing, Inspection, and Metrology laboratories based in Walvis Bay, Windhoek, and Lüderitz,” Mvula said.
The newly acquired laboratory equipment is expected to upgrade NSI’s testing capabilities, improving technical performance and service delivery.
It will also bolster industrialization, job creation, and export-led growth by ensuring Namibian products meet international standards.
Erongo Governor Neville Itope, speaking on behalf of Minister of Trade and Industrialization Lucia Iipumbu, highlighted the importance of the investment.
“This contribution reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Namibia’s quality infrastructure and fostering deeper trade relations with the EU,” he said.
EU Ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins, reiterated the EU’s dedication to supporting Namibia’s economic development.
“The EU is proud to support Namibia in strengthening the national quality infrastructure. This was done through procuring top-quality laboratory equipment to meet the needs of the NSI, thereby ensuring that Namibian products meet international standards and gain better access to global markets,” she said.
The investment is expected to reinforce Namibia’s ability to compete in international markets, ensuring compliance with global standards and enhancing trade relations with the European Union.
