Namibia is actively improving its business environment, including easing multiple-entry visa requirements for South African business, to encourage more cross-border trade and investment.

Speaking at the official launch of the Invest in Namibia International Investment Conference scheduled for Windhoek in November, Namibian President Hage G. Geingob told South African businesses delegates in Johannesburg that his government planned to remove visa restrictions hampering business travel to Namibia by South Africans.

"We are undertaking a number of ease of business reforms. Soon, all South African business people will be able to get multiple entry visas, and visas will be issued at the airport. Ultimately, the aim is for visa requirements to be abolished."

Noting that the country had achieved peace and stability and recorded consistent improvement on all fronts, Geingob said: "We are now entering the second phase of the struggle – creating an environment conducive to inclusive economic growth." This, he said, could only be achieved in win-win partnerships with neighbouring African countries such as South Africa.

The Namibian authorities launching the investment conference noted that Namibia, with a GDP growth rate of 4.4%, rapid urbanisation, political stability and sound macroeconomic management, offered solid investment opportunities for businesses based in South Africa.

They say trade between South Africa and Namibia has increased steadily in recent years, topping R61 billion in exports from South Africa to Namibia and R11.4 billion from Namibia to South Africa last year.

South Africa is both Namibia's top export and top import destination, with the country's main exports including diamonds, livestock, meat, fish, salt, refined zinc, copper cathodes, and metal ores – including uranium.

Its main imports include vehicles and parts, agricultural and industrial equipment, furniture and household machines and ICT products. Among the new investment opportunities now available in Namibia are a marble and granite processing plant, hardwood charcoal packaging plant, the development of a new conference centre, a tourism facility, a low-cost building system and a truck stop for the Port of Walvis Bay.

Vocational training

President Geingob said Namibia hoped to correct the imbalance in import and export volumes to develop greater manufacturing capacity within Namibia, for export across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Tarah Shaanika, CEO of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said while South Africa and Namibia were already close trading partners, there were opportunities for further investment growth across multiple sectors. "Namibia has a track record for predictable policy changes and an accessible and consultative leadership, which is very good for business," he said. "Namibia is also working very hard to grow our skills base, with a focus on vocational training in consultation with business."

He said potential investors commonly considered Namibia's relatively small population when looking at investment possibilities, but that this should not be a primary concern. "Size doesn't matter in our case. Namibia has become a transport and logistics hub for the entire region, as we have the infrastructure to move goods with ease."

Namibia's ports, rail and road infrastructures connect the country with an expanding market of nearly 250 million consumers across the SADC region.

Gabriel Sinimbo, Permanent Secretary in the Namibian Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, noted that Namibia also offered a range of incentives for investors in manufacturing capacity development, including building and transportation allowances, training incentives, cash grants and export promotion allowances.

Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, said Namibia and South Africa had 71 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding in place across a broad spectrum of areas. "We acknowledge Namibia's continued importance as a major trading partner of South Africa," he said.