‘Namibia’s market too small to sustain economy’

The small size of the Namibian market makes it imperative for the country to look beyond its borders for larger markets for its products. This was said by Ministry of International Relations and Trade executive director Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati when she officially launched the first edition of the Namibia Exporters’ Guide at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) offices in Windhoek yesterday. “With a domestic market of approximately 3. 2 million people, sustained economic expansion and business growth depend heavily on our capacity to look beyond our national borders, compete internationally and integrate our producers into broader regional and global value chains,” she said.

She added that exports remain a vital driver of national prosperity, serving as an important engine for job creation, industrial capacity building, foreign exchange earnings and overall economic resilience. However, Namibia’s export basket remains predominantly concentrated in primary commodities, such as uranium, gold, fish, diamonds and beef, she said, noting that Namibia exports about 80% of its beef. Nghipondoka-Robiati said businesses, including those at micro level, require trade intelligence to convert trade agreements into actual commercial transactions. “Businesses require clear operational guidance, regulatory compliance capabilities, and accessible support systems,” she said. “For many businesses, especially micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), navigating export procedures, technical standards, documentation requirements, customs regulations, transport logistics, and foreign buyer verification can present complex challenges. This publication addresses this precise gap,” she added. Nghipondoka-Robiati said the exporters’ guide serves as a…