Namibia Boosts Trade Competitiveness with Digital Reforms and Infrastructure Investment

Recent reforms and capacity-building efforts are improving Namibia’s trade environment, boosting efficiency, market access and competitiveness, analyst Almandro Jansen said.

In March 2025, the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade launched the Namibian Trade Information Portal, a digital platform centralizing key trade data such as customs procedures, licensing requirements, tariff schedules, investment incentives, and trade regulations.

Jansen, an analyst with Simonis Storm, said the portal reduces red tape and makes trade processes more predictable. “It is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to engage in regional and global markets,” he said. The portal aims to lower transaction costs and facilitate smoother cross-border trade.

Namibia has also strengthened its capacity to manage preferential trade regimes. Through the EU-WTO Rules of Origin Africa Program, the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) created a national pool of Rules of Origin (RoO) trainers. These trainers will educate public and private sector stakeholders on applying RoO provisions under agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

This initiative aims to improve compliance, increase use of preferential tariffs, and help local exporters benefit more from trade agreements.

Jansen noted the government is finalizing an international trade management bill that will update Namibia’s trade governance by enhancing negotiating power in international forums, aligning trade rules with global standards, and providing legal tools to protect local industries from unfair practices.

“It is also expected to institutionalise economic diplomacy efforts and create a more enabling environment for industrial development and value addition,” Jansen said.

In April 2025, the government announced an investment of N$885 million to upgrade telecommunications and digital infrastructure. This investment will support the trade sector by accelerating customs clearance with digital systems, expanding e-commerce access, and improving trade logistics through real-time tracking and data integration.

Jansen said the investment will reduce operational inefficiencies and boost Namibia’s competitiveness in regional and global trade.

Namibia’s trade sector recorded a deficit of N$2.7 billion in March, slightly worse than February’s N$2 billion deficit but an improvement compared to the N$4.6 billion deficit reported in March last year.