Africa-Press – Namibia. Staff Reporter
THIS week, the Bank of Namibia participated in the 2026 Cirrus Investor Conference, reinforcing its commitment to advancing Namibia’s investment narrative and strengthening engagement with both global and domestic capital markets.
Convened annually by Cirrus Capital, the conference has established itself as a key platform within Namibia’s financial ecosystem, bringing together institutional investors, policymakers, and market participants to discuss economic trends, unlock investment opportunities, and deepen capital market participation. The Bank’s participation reaffirms its commitment to transparent engagement and to strengthening investor confidence.
Delivering a keynote address under the theme “Confidence, Reform and Opportunity: Unlocking Namibia’s Investment Potential,” the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Leonie Dunn, framed Namibia’s economic outlook within a rapidly shifting global environment, noting that the global economy is not simply evolving, but being redefined.
“In such an environment, the role of institutions, particularly central banks, is not only to preserve stability, but to anticipate change, to build resilience, and to enable growth,” she noted.
Domestically, Namibia’s economic recovery is expected to strengthen over the medium term, supported by improved activity in construction, utilities, and public sector investment. However, the Deputy Governor cautioned that structural constraints remain, highlighting the need for economic transformation, as long-term growth will depend on diversification, value addition, and the development of new sectors. At a regional level, the Deputy Governor further noted that the outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in neighbouring countries presents a downside risk to agricultural output and export performance, reinforcing the need for continued vigilance in safeguarding key sectors of the economy.
While global economic activity remains broadly resilient, it continues to unfold within an increasingly complex environment characterised by tighter financial conditions and persistent geopolitical uncertainty. The Deputy Governor noted that global oil price volatility, driven by geopolitical developments, combined with domestic fuel price increases effective April 2026, is expected to exert upward pressure on inflation. “These dynamics present a material risk to the current forecast and may necessitate major revisions to the current forecasts,” she further added.
Within this context, the Bank is advancing a deliberate strategic repositioning. As articulated by the Deputy Governor, the institution is guided by a clear vision of “marching with a clear purpose, while aligning the central bank for the new economy,” reflecting a shift towards strengthening institutional capacity, leveraging data and technology, and enhancing policy responsiveness.
This strategic direction is being translated into a set of transformative reforms aimed at modernising Namibia’s financial architecture. Central to these is the development of the Instant Payments Solution, which will enable real-time, secure, and affordable digital transactions across the economy. The platform is expected to deepen financial inclusion and improve the efficiency of economic activity, supporting broader participation in the financial system.
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