Africa-Press – Namibia. The Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, says her ministry, in collaboration with the ministry of mines and energy, is mandated to create increased market access, support product diversification, attract investment, and assist with product development.
She stated that these mandates are crucial to helping businesses thrive and compete in global markets.
The minister made these remarks yesterday during an engagement with businesspeople in Oshakati, in the Oshana region. The engagement was attended by various business owners, who had the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the minister. Today, the minister is in Eenhana, Ohangwena Region, where she is continuing engagements with the local business community.
“The timing of this engagement is paramount in the sense that I launched trade under the AfCFTA two weeks ago in Walvis Bay, and this is the second engagement after Erongo,” said Ashipala-Musavyi. She stressed that the consultation aims to foster a conducive business environment and assist the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade together with other relevant ministries and agencies in formulating and implementing policies that directly impact the growth and development of local businesses, enabling them to capitalise on external markets.
“The State Parties to the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) have created vast opportunities. For Namibia, key benefits include expanded markets for goods and services, smoother movement of businesspersons and investments, and access to new frameworks for digital trade, investment, intellectual property rights, and support for women and youth in trade. These are all critical towards achieving Namibia’s long-term strategies, such as Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into a fully industrialised nation by promoting value addition, processing raw materials, and enhancing export competitiveness,” she said.
Ashipala-Musavyi added that a key part of this vision is the “Growth at Home” strategy, which focuses on developing value chains and boosting industrial capacity to create jobs and improve living standards.
To this end, Namibia is committed to actively participating in ongoing negotiations and implementation processes under the AfCFTA framework to maximise national benefits and contribute to regional integration by advocating for flexible rules that accommodate varying levels of development and promote equitable growth.“Advocating for flexible rules can promote inclusive economic growth that recognises the unique capabilities and needs of all member states. To safeguard the domestic economy, Namibia is in the advanced stages of establishing a Tariff Management Body. The enabling Bill will soon be tabled in Parliament, aimed at protecting against unfair trade practices while ensuring compliance with AfCFTA commitments,” she said.
Also speaking at the occasion, Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge said the region continues to position itself as a vibrant commercial hub in northern Namibia, with a growing base of small and medium enterprises, emerging industries, and youth-led innovations.
“We believe that this engagement will not only strengthen our regional economic competitiveness but also identify and support local companies that are export-ready, thereby linking them to regional and global value chains,” he said.
“To our business community, your participation is central to this initiative. I urge you to take full advantage of this platform to engage openly with the ministry, share your experiences, and contribute ideas that will help shape a more inclusive and responsive trade policy framework for Namibia,” he said.
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