The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) has appointed Jessica Hauuanga as Acting Chief Executive Officer following the impending departure of its founding Chief Executive, Nangula Uaandja, who is set to leave office on 31 December 2025, the board said.
The appointment comes as the board prepares to launch a recruitment process for a substantive chief executive in the new year, according to the NIPDB.
During the interim period, Hauuanga will oversee the institution’s ongoing work, including positioning Namibia as a preferred investment destination, supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and strengthening engagement with domestic and international investors, the board said.
Hauuanga has served as Executive for Investor Experience at the NIPDB since 2021 and brings experience in investment facilitation and stakeholder engagement. The board said it is confident in her ability to ensure continuity and maintain investor confidence during the transition.
“In the interim, Ms Jessica Hauuanga will serve as Acting CEO until the recruitment process is concluded,” the NIPDB said. “Ms Hauuanga has served as the Executive: Investor Experience since 2021, and we have full confidence in her capabilities to lead the NIPDB during this transitional phase of its growth.”
Since the establishment of the NIPDB, Namibia has recorded a sharp increase in foreign direct investment, according to official data cited by the board.
In 2023, foreign direct investment reached a record N$48.2 billion, more than double the N$17.3 billion recorded in 2022. Between 2021 and 2023, average FDI as a percentage of gross domestic product stood at 12.1%, rising to 21% in 2023, compared with Namibia’s historical average of 7%, the NIPDB said.
Namibia’s performance has also attracted international recognition. In May 2025, FDI Intelligence ranked the country first in Africa and second globally in the Greenfield FDI Performance Index, which measures how effectively countries attract greenfield investment relative to the size of their economies. Namibia climbed 10 places from the previous year to secure the top position on the continent.
On the domestic front, the NIPDB said it has strengthened support for MSMEs, recognising their role in driving private sector activity and economic growth.
These efforts contributed to improvements in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with Namibia ranking 85th in the 2025 Global Start-up Ecosystem Index, up from 87th a year earlier. Windhoek recorded a 74% improvement, securing fourth place in the Southern Africa region, according to the index.
