Namibia is seeking concrete investment deals and practical business partnerships at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, with local business leaders saying the country must use the gathering to secure opportunities to create jobs, strengthen food security and grow local industries.
Namibia- Kenya Chamber of Commerce president Elvis Mboya said Namibian business delegates attending the summit should focus on presenting “bankable opportunities” capable of attracting investors from across Africa and beyond.
Speaking in Nairobi ahead of the summit, Mboya said Namibia has strong potential in green hydrogen, mining and manufacturing, but needs strategic partnerships to unlock value addition and industrial growth.
“The most important thing is how Namibia can benefit. Namibia should present bankable investment opportunities, including hydrogen and minerals,” he said. The summit, currently taking place in Kenya, co-hosted by Kenyan president William Ruto and French president Emmanuel Macron, has attracted more than 30 African heads of state, business leaders and investors to Nairobi since Monday till today.
Namibia’s delegation includes international relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala, senior government officials and business representatives, while Vice President Lucia Witbooi is expected to participate in the engagements.Mboya said the Namibia Kenya Chamber of Commerce has been mobilising Kenyan companies to meet Namibian counterparts during business-to-business engagements scheduled alongside the summit.
“We are trying to pair Namibians and the Kenyan business community to do business. It is a very good opportunity for the Namibian delegation to showcase what they have, especially what the country has to offer,” he said
He stressed that Namibia must move beyond exporting raw materials and instead attract investors to establish processing and manufacturing industries within the country.
“We have an issue of value addition in Namibia. We need investment in manufacturing that can add value to products in Namibia,” Mboya said.
According to him, Kenya’s experience in agriculture and agribusiness could also help Namibia improve food production and food security.
“Kenya is very advanced when it comes to agriculture and agribusiness. Namibia can benchmark from Kenya for food security,” he noted.
The Namibia-Kenya business forum on 13 May is expected to focus on direct engagements between investors, entrepreneurs and companies from both countries. Mboya said the chamber wants the meetings to produce visible outcomes rather than ending with speeches and promises.
“This should not just be a case of speeches, but actionable outcomes. By the time Namibia comes back, they should be able to show these are the opportunities we have secured from the summit,” he said. He also called on Namibian diplomats and officials attending the summit to aggressively market Namibia as an investment destination.
“Right now is the time for diplomats to roll up their sleeves and act as chief investment officers for the government,” Mboya said.
He added that Namibia stands to benefit not only from Kenya but also from networking with investors and delegations from across Africa attending the Nairobi summit.
“We are looking forward to a very fruitful engagement,” he added. – ljason@nepc.com.na