Namibia has made its first official export under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), sending 45,000 tonnes of salt from Walvis Bay to Nigeria.
The salt, produced by Walvis Bay Salt Holdings, marks Namibia’s entry into the AfCFTA, which aims to create a single African market by removing trade barriers between member states.
At the launch in Walvis Bay, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, said government would begin a nationwide outreach in July to help businesses understand how to take advantage of the agreement.
“The Ministry of International Relations and Trade, together with the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, will undertake regional outreach with the private sector, including SMEs. Our goal is to ensure that Namibia is not only a signatory on paper but a true participant and beneficiary,” she said.
She said the private sector must lead the way in using the agreement to access new markets, with government providing the necessary support.
“Government will continue to create an enabling environment, but the private sector will be the true engine of this transformation,” she said. “The success of the AfCFTA depends on how well we embrace, network, and utilise its opportunities.”
She added that Namibia’s position as a coastal state, with infrastructure like Namport and the Walvis Bay Corridor, makes it well placed to serve both local and regional trade needs.
The Minister also said Namibia’s involvement in AfCFTA represents a shift away from dependence on regional blocs like SACU and SADC, and opens up trade opportunities with North, West and Central Africa.
She said harmonising policies, improving logistics and building production capacity are key to making the most of the agreement.
“While the potential benefits are clear, they require our businesses, SMEs, exporters and service providers to stand ready and remain relevant,” she said.
Namibia has spent the past four years raising awareness of the AfCFTA and preparing the local business sector for participation.
