Nandi-Ndaitwah wants Namibia as both ‘producer and processor’

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on investors to establish processing centres in Namibia, emphasising that the country must move beyond merely extracting and exporting raw minerals to become both a producer and a processor.Speaking in New York in an interview with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), an independent, nonpartisan think tank, and published on Monday, the president outlined her vision for economic diversification and job creation.“We have set ourselves a clear goal: over the next five years, we aim to create at least 500,000 jobs. These jobs will come from various sectors of the economy, including areas we now recognise as essential, such as sports and the creative industry. These sectors were never really treated as priorities before, but we are making them part of our agenda,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.She added: “When you invest in the creative industry and give people the space to showcase their talent, you create jobs in the process, and the same applies to sports. That is why we also want to monetise sports, so that more young people can pursue careers in it.”The president said Namibia’s economy remains largely resource-based, making value addition a government priority. “We are asking investors to do more than just extract resources. We want them to establish processing centres here, which will create jobs. This is part of restructuring our economy. We no longer want to depend solely on raw mineral exports. Instead, we are building an economy where Namibia is both a producer and a processor.”She stressed that this approach ensures Namibians benefit fully from their natural resources while remaining responsible partners in the global economy.Energy and industrialisationOn industrialisation, Nandi-Ndaitwah said energy is central to the strategy. “An energy mix combines our current conventional sources, such as hydro, with clean and renewable energy. Namibia has abundant potential for renewables—we have the sun, the wind, and even the waves. In addition, nuclear energy is among the strongest sources, and we have already announced a policy to include it in our mix. We are now working to develop this further so nuclear energy becomes a formal part of our portfolio.”“Without reliable energy, industrialisation is impossible,” she added. “That is why we aim for each of our 14 regions to host at least one industry, determined according to the unique strengths and resources of that region. This vision is achievable. And we are not doing it solely for Namibia; we are also considering southern Africa, Africa as a whole, and our role in the global economy.”Expanding exportsThe president highlighted Namibia’s growing export base. “We currently export beef and charcoal to the United States. We also export beef, fish, and grapes to Europe, and most recently, blueberries have been added to our product line. With these new products entering international markets, we will not only create jobs but also establish industries in line with demand,” she said.Nandi-Ndaitwah’s is in USA to attend this year’s UN General Assembly, where she is expected to deliver her maiden speech as Namibia’s head of state.

Nandi-Ndaitwah wants Namibia as both ‘producer and processor’

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-15

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Nandi-Ndaitwah wants Namibia as both ‘producer and processor’

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-15

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