President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Chinese businesses to invest in Namibia’s value addition and manufacturing industries, saying the two countries’ economic partnership must shift beyond the export of raw materials towards industrialisation, technology transfer and job creation.
Addressing the Namibia-China Business Forum in Beijing, the President urged Chinese investors to establish manufacturing and processing operations in Namibia to unlock greater value from the country’s natural resources and strengthen local production.
“Come and manufacture in Namibia, come and process in Namibia, come and innovate in Namibia, and come and grow with Namibia,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She said China’s expanded zero-tariff market access for qualifying African exports presents Namibia with an opportunity to increase exports of value-added products while expanding its industrial base.
“This development presents an important opening for Namibia to deepen exports into one of the world’s largest consumer and industrial markets. This opportunity must not be viewed simply as a trade concession; it must be viewed as a strategic instrument for industrialisation, export diversification, enterprise growth and job creation,” she said.
The President encouraged Namibian businesses to increase production, invest in value addition and improve product quality to meet Chinese market requirements while complying with export standards, certification and traceability requirements.
She said Namibia is seeking investment across agriculture, mining, renewable energy, logistics, digital infrastructure, education and healthcare, supported by preferential access to regional markets through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia offers investors political stability, investment protection, an efficient tax regime, reliable transport and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as the free repatriation of profits, dividends and capital.
She also encouraged the Namibian business delegation attending the forum to use the platform to secure investment, technology, strategic partnerships and market access that will support the country’s long-term industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
