Africa-Press – Namibia. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs has been directed to review Namibia’s visa regime and simplify visa application forms to make it easier for investors and visitors to access the special visa programme.
Under this new directive, she said, serious investors will be eligible for a five-year permit.
The President highlighted this as one of the key outcomes of discussions held during the recently concluded Namibia Public-Private Forum.
“The private sector reminded us that progress begins with trust. When government and business meet each other halfway, we create the right environment for growth. We must make it easier to do business in Namibia by reviewing and amending policies that hold us back, simplifying processes, cutting unnecessary delays, and aligning our institutions. Predictable and fair systems build confidence, and confidence attracts investment, creates jobs, and drives inclusive growth,” she said.
In addition to reviewing and simplifying the country’s visa regime, the President revealed that government will prioritise the enactment of the Migration Bill before the end of the current financial year. She also announced plans to improve infrastructure at Hosea Kutako International Airport, including adding more counters in the arrival hall to ease congestion and reduce long queues.
The President further shared that the forum also identified priority areas for improvement in the agriculture, finance, as well as trade and investment sectors.
In the agricultural sector, she directed the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen its Plant Health capacity by deploying specialised expertise to address emerging phytosanitary challenges before the end of the financial year. She added that the agriculture ministry has also been tasked with expediting the establishment of a structure to commence implementation of the Transformation of the Agri-food Sector (STAS) plan, which outlines priority investment areas and stakeholder roles, by December 2025.
Turning to finance, President Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that the government will soon implement a series of tax reforms aimed at enhancing competitiveness and fairness in the economy.
“These initiatives align with global trends that advocate for increased tax-to-GDP ratios to facilitate economic growth and promote reduced inequality through a progressive taxation framework,” the president said.
Regarding trade and investment, the President underscored the importance of incentivising manufacturing and value addition. While such incentives are currently under the proposed EPZ law, she acknowledged that the bill’s finalisation may take time. As an interim measure, she directed that the Special Incentives Policy for Manufacturing be finalised and made operational within the next two months.
“The time it takes to start a business in Namibia has long been a concern and rightly so. It places us at a disadvantage in the race to unlock growth, create jobs, and foster innovation. While the process involves several institutions, it is imperative that BIPA, as both the gateway and gatekeeper of formal business, must drive this transformation,” she said.
The President emphasised her commitment to creating an enabling environment for business through a one-stop service model that simplifies and accelerates the process of doing business in Namibia.
“The Cabinet has approved BIPA’s acquisition of a fit-for-purpose building, which will open in early November 2025. This new facility will serve as Namibia’s One-Stop Business Hub, bringing together all essential business services under one roof, a tangible step toward the Namibia we envision,” the president said.
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