Investment forum calls for stronger regulation to drive growth
The 4th annual Namibia Institutional Investors Forum 2025 opened at Swakopmund last Thursday with a call for stronger regulatory frameworks to enable investment growth and consumer protections.
Delivering the opening address, CEO of the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) Kenneth Matomola emphasised the crucial role of regulation in fostering economic resilience and attracting institutional investments.
Matomola described the forum’s theme, ‘Empowering Growth: Investment Strategies for Institutional Investors in Namibia’, as “timely and crucial” given the ever-evolving financial landscape.
He highlighted the African Development Bank’s 2023 estimate that the continent requires up to US$170 billion annually in infrastructure financing, with a shortfall of up to US$108 billion each year.
This, he said, presents a significant opportunity for institutional investors to bridge the gap through capital injection, expertise, and long-term commitment.
However, for institutional investors to maximise their impact, challenges such as project development, risk management and regulatory frameworks must be addressed.
“A supportive regulatory environment is crucial to attracting institutional investments in Africa and, in particular, Namibia’s infrastructure,” he noted.
Financial stability
Matomola emphasised that financial regulation is not just a bureaucratic exercise but one that affects everyone.
“We sometimes separate ourselves from ‘the man on the street,’ but in reality, we all participate in financial products. Whatever we do, we must think about financial stability because instability can lead to economic downturns,” he cautioned.
Matomola also highlighted Namibia’s growing contractual savings sector, driven mainly by pension funds and insurance. Despite this growth, he pointed out that these savings have yet to translate into meaningful employment opportunities and tangible economic impact.
“The employment figures are quite concerning, but at the same time, we see that we have contractual savings that have not been effectively channelled into employment creation. By directing long-term capital into productive sectors, institutional investors can contribute to infrastructure development, job creation, and innovation,” Matomola explained.
Namibia has chaired the Committee of Insurance, Securities, and Non-Banking Authorities for the past three years, focusing on market development, financial stability and consumer protection in the SADC region.
“At a regional level, our goal is to ensure that Namibia’s regulatory framework is harmonised with other countries in Southern Africa,” Matomola said. “Namibia may be a small market, but when combined with the region, it becomes much larger, and we must eliminate regulatory barriers to facilitate cross-border investment.”
During the event, stakeholders explored key investment topics, including sustainable investing, asset allocation, risk management, and the role of technology in financial markets. The forum concluded on Friday, with high-level discussions expected to provide a roadmap for enhancing investment opportunities and ensuring long-term financial stability in Namibia.
Delivering the opening address, CEO of the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) Kenneth Matomola emphasised the crucial role of regulation in fostering economic resilience and attracting institutional investments.
Matomola described the forum’s theme, ‘Empowering Growth: Investment Strategies for Institutional Investors in Namibia’, as “timely and crucial” given the ever-evolving financial landscape.
He highlighted the African Development Bank’s 2023 estimate that the continent requires up to US$170 billion annually in infrastructure financing, with a shortfall of up to US$108 billion each year.
This, he said, presents a significant opportunity for institutional investors to bridge the gap through capital injection, expertise, and long-term commitment.
However, for institutional investors to maximise their impact, challenges such as project development, risk management and regulatory frameworks must be addressed.
“A supportive regulatory environment is crucial to attracting institutional investments in Africa and, in particular, Namibia’s infrastructure,” he noted.
Financial stability
Matomola emphasised that financial regulation is not just a bureaucratic exercise but one that affects everyone.
“We sometimes separate ourselves from ‘the man on the street,’ but in reality, we all participate in financial products. Whatever we do, we must think about financial stability because instability can lead to economic downturns,” he cautioned.
Matomola also highlighted Namibia’s growing contractual savings sector, driven mainly by pension funds and insurance. Despite this growth, he pointed out that these savings have yet to translate into meaningful employment opportunities and tangible economic impact.
“The employment figures are quite concerning, but at the same time, we see that we have contractual savings that have not been effectively channelled into employment creation. By directing long-term capital into productive sectors, institutional investors can contribute to infrastructure development, job creation, and innovation,” Matomola explained.
Namibia has chaired the Committee of Insurance, Securities, and Non-Banking Authorities for the past three years, focusing on market development, financial stability and consumer protection in the SADC region.
“At a regional level, our goal is to ensure that Namibia’s regulatory framework is harmonised with other countries in Southern Africa,” Matomola said. “Namibia may be a small market, but when combined with the region, it becomes much larger, and we must eliminate regulatory barriers to facilitate cross-border investment.”
During the event, stakeholders explored key investment topics, including sustainable investing, asset allocation, risk management, and the role of technology in financial markets. The forum concluded on Friday, with high-level discussions expected to provide a roadmap for enhancing investment opportunities and ensuring long-term financial stability in Namibia.
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