Business Opportunities in Namibia

Namibia has a population of 2.1 million, but with the ever-expanding port of Walvis Bay, the country is positioning itself as a gateway to the more than 240 million person Southern Africa market. Namibia enjoys one of the most stable, peaceful political environments in Africa. Primary infrastructure (roads, rail, air, energy and telecommunications) is relatively well developed and modern. The economy is mostly export driven. Mining, tourism, fishing and agriculture are Namibia?s key industries. The vast majority of Namibia?s 2012 imports, 70 percent of the total, came from South Africa, followed by the UK, China, and Germany. The United States ranked number 13 as export destination. South Africa and the United Kingdom are Namibia?s number one (16 percent) and two (12 percent)export destinations respectively, followed by Belgium, Botswana, Spain, Canada and the Netherlands. U. S. foreign direct investment in Namibia is minimal. The Namibian dollar (N$) is pegged one to one (1:1) to the South African Rand. The World Bank ranked Namibia number 87 among 185 countries in its 2013 Doing Business Report; and fifth among Southern African Development Community member countries behind Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana and the Seychelles.