President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged Namibian businesses to build the technical and production capacity needed to secure supply contracts in the country’s emerging oil and gas industry, as the government seeks to increase local participation and maximise the economic benefits of petroleum investments.
Speaking at the official opening of the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAiTEX) at The Dome in Swakopmund, Nandi-Ndaitwah said local companies needed to understand the requirements of emerging industries and position themselves to supply goods and services as projects develop.
She said the expansion of Namibia’s oil and gas industry, alongside investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen and rare earth minerals, presented opportunities for domestic enterprises to enter new supply chains.
“We can either sell what we produce today, or build the capacity to produce more, process more, innovate more, and compete more effectively,” she said.
The President said preparing local businesses to participate in these industries would also support the government’s proposed local-content policy once adopted.
The policy is expected to provide a framework for increasing Namibian participation in emerging industries, making the development of competitive domestic suppliers an important priority.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s remarks place emphasis on the need for Namibian companies to prepare for procurement opportunities linked to major energy investments rather than waiting until projects are operational.
She said strengthening local production and improving the competitiveness of domestic enterprises were central to the government’s broader economic development objectives.
Under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), Namibia is prioritising economic diversification, value addition and employment creation, with a focus on reducing dependence on raw-material exports.
The plan seeks to encourage greater domestic processing, beneficiation and industrial development to ensure that natural resources generate wider economic benefits.
Similarly, the National Trade Policy 2023–2030 prioritises export diversification, market access and improved competitiveness among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
