Namibia is expected to table its revised Investment Promotion Bill in Parliament in March 2026, the Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) has revealed.
Speaking at the latest national consultation session, Deputy Director Angela Pretorius said the bill will be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation (CCL) once all written comments have been reviewed and incorporated into a revised draft.
She said this step is crucial to ensure legal coherence, particularly in areas where the bill overlaps with mining, petroleum, competition policy and trade regulations.
“It has a strong monitoring component and provides clear guidelines for investor dispute procedures. It is also aligned with regional and continental strategies, such as the AfCFTA and the African Continental Free Trade Area Protocol on Investment. Consultations are currently underway with the private sector, ministries, agencies and other stakeholders. The bill is aimed to be scheduled for tabling in Parliament in March 2026,” she said.
Pretorius said the bill offers several opportunities, including the creation of greater certainty for investors.
She noted that the absence of updated investment legislation for more than a decade has created uncertainty, and that finalising the law could encourage more predictable investment flows.
She added that regional consultations highlighted concerns from SMEs, many of which feel vulnerable when competing with foreign operators with greater resources.
Pretorius said the sector-designation tools in the bill were designed to ensure Namibian-owned enterprises are not edged out, particularly at SME level.
A clearer and more coherent incentive framework also forms part of the draft regulations. Proposed measures include establishing an Incentives Committee to guide the structure and application of tax and non-tax incentives, streamlined permitting for qualifying projects, targeted support for high-impact investments and requirements for skills transfer and domestic value addition.
“It ensures that the designation of economic sectors or business activities is carried out in consultation with relevant stakeholders and reviewed after a specified period. The regulations also outline the application process for investment approval and changes of control, as well as the procedures for appealing to the High Court,” she said.
However, Cirrus Capital Co-founder Rowland Brown warned that the level of ministerial discretion in key areas of the bill could create uncertainty.
He said stronger safeguards, checks and time-bound processes were needed to ensure decisions are predictable and transparent.
Stakeholders also cautioned that the bill could unintentionally introduce additional layers of bureaucracy if its processes overlap with existing sector-specific approvals.
Some noted that delays of up to 90 business days, with possible extensions, could threaten major deals, especially in fast-moving global markets.
There were also calls for improved alignment with existing legislation.
Private sector representatives urged government to clarify how the bill fits with frameworks such as the Competition Act, Mining Act and Petroleum Act to avoid duplication or legal contradictions.
