The Presidential Task Force on Economic Recovery has been directed to accelerate reforms, expand production and push deliberate economic diversification as part of efforts to revive national growth and address unemployment.
Opening the inaugural meeting, National Planning Commission Director General Kaire Mbuende said the work of the task force must move Namibia away from slow and fragmented delivery towards coordinated action that strengthens growth and job creation.
“Our efforts for economic recovery should result in scaled-up production, expanded productive capacity, and deliberate economic diversification. No country has achieved sustained growth and development without expanding what it produces and trades,” Mbuende said.
He stressed that Namibia must broaden its economic base, deepen value addition and unlock new drivers of growth capable of generating meaningful employment. He warned that sluggish growth, high joblessness and structural constraints continue to weigh on the economy, adding that a stronger push is required to meet the goal of creating 500 000 jobs across sectors.
“Namibia must grow at a significantly faster rate than we are currently experiencing. This Task Force will therefore be instrumental in identifying the strategic reforms and catalytic investments required to place our economy on a higher, more inclusive, and sustainable growth trajectory,” he said.
Mbuende told the task force to deliver practical recommendations and coordinated interventions for the Economic Recovery Programme.
“Your mandate as the Presidential Task Force on Economic Recovery is clear. You are expected to provide concrete strategies, coordinated actions, and implementable recommendations. You will identify barriers, propose practical solutions, facilitate public–private collaboration, and accelerate the conversion of existing projects from pipeline to implementation,” he said.
He said the National Planning Commission and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board will support the work as part of the secretariat.
“In closing, I wish to remind all of us that the work we begin today is not ordinary. It carries national significance. Our success will shape Namibia’s economic future, strengthen the livelihoods of our people, and restore confidence in our ability to deliver. Let us therefore approach this mandate with unity of purpose, urgency, and a commitment to measurable impact. Namibia is counting on all of us,” Mbuende said.
