Khomas Governor Sam Nujoma has called on the City of Windhoek to establish more public markets, warning that high rental costs and a shortage of affordable trading spaces are preventing young entrepreneurs from growing their businesses.
Speaking at the Khomas State of the Region Address, Nujoma said the region’s expanding small business sector requires greater support to translate entrepreneurial activity into sustainable economic growth.
“Our Region is in urgent need of accessible markets. The high rental costs of privately owned shops, coupled with the shortage of adequate public trading spaces, are discouraging our youth from pursuing their business ideas. This is a barrier we cannot afford to ignore. I therefore call upon the City of Windhoek, in collaboration with all stakeholders, to explore practical ways of establishing more public markets,” he said.
The appeal comes as the City of Windhoek has registered 27,031 businesses, generating N$48.04 million in revenue. According to Nujoma, 93% of the businesses are formally registered and are predominantly owned by youth and women.
He said the figures demonstrate the growing contribution of small and medium enterprises to the capital’s economy and reflect the impact of government-backed youth development initiatives.
Nujoma said the Governor’s Office coordinated the rollout of the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) in Khomas through digital platforms and constituency-level information sessions.
During the pilot phase, Vertical Studio received N$400,000 for film production, Willem Technologies secured N$400,000 for its logistics business, while Anangkazo Farming & Trading received N$432,253 to expand its poultry farming operations.
Agribank and the Environmental Investment Fund also approved a combined N$4.8 million for six enterprises in the region, supporting projects in horticulture, mixed agriculture, sustainable crop farming, renewable energy and green transport.
The Khomas Regional Council also financed 192 SME projects worth N$2.5 million during the 2025/26 financial year through its Income Generating Activities Programme.
In partnership with the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy, the Governor’s Office also hosted the Standard Bank Blue Growth Series Vendor Programme to strengthen MSMEs’ financial management and business skills.
