The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy (MIME) has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Namibia's industrial development, noting progress on key national programmes and outlining new measures aimed at boosting investment, manufacturing capacity and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) growth.
The remarks were made during the final regional engagement in |Khomas aimed at raising awareness and ensuring effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Acting Director for Industrial Development, Pinehas Shinyala, highlighted progress in infrastructure development, industrial upgrading and investment incentive reforms.
Shinyala noted ongoing expansion under the Sites and Premises Programme, which has delivered more than 148 industrial and SME parks, along with factories and warehouses in key border towns to enhance cross-border trade.
He further reported that through the Industrial Upgrading and Modernisation Programme, 14 companies were supported last year, with 723 new applications currently under review.
The Ministry, he added, continues to scale up initiatives such as the Equipment Aid Scheme, gemstone cutting and polishing training in Karibib and value chain development.
These are in sectors such as cosmetics and metal fabrication, as well as entrepreneurship training offered nationwide.
"Under this programme, we train women and youth to acquire skills to be able to cut and polish gemstones. Most of the colleagues that are trained here find jobs at diamond cutting and polishing companies. And also, some of them have managed to create their own enterprises in the areas where there is an abundance of gemstones. Value chain development is also one element," says Shinyala.
He also confirmed that Namibia's Special Economic Zone Policy will offer incentives, including a reduced corporate tax rate of about 20%, customs duty reductions and accelerated depreciation, with an emphasis on promoting green industries.
"We have quite a lot of activities taking place around our borders with Angola, for example, which Zambia is also picking up. And we also have seen that with South Africa, we also have in Botswana, we have also opened up for cross-border trade, and we need to make sure that specific support follows suit."
Shinyala called for greater resource allocation and stronger institutional cooperation to increase Namibia's export capacity and drive sustainable economic growth.