PM orders public entities to stop importing furniture
Directive to boost jobs, local businesses
Prime Minister Dr Elijah Ngurare has directed all public entities to give priority to furniture manufactured in Namibia, in a move aimed at enforcing local content provisions under the Public Procurement Act.
State officials told Namibian Sun that in a directive addressed to finance minister Erica Shafudah, Ngurare invoked sections 72 and 73 of the Public Procurement Act, 2015 (Act No. 15 of 2015), which require public institutions to promote Namibian-made products through procurement.
“I hereby direct that all public entities must prioritise the procurement of furniture manufactured within the Republic of Namibia, where such local production capacity exists,” a correspondence from the prime minister states.
Under the directive, locally manufactured furniture must receive preferential treatment during bid evaluation and award processes. Ngurare said the objective is to advance local content utilisation in public procurement, create employment opportunities, and strengthen small and medium manufacturing enterprises.
Local content to take precedence
The directive is expected to feature prominently at a consultative meeting on the public procurement system scheduled for tomorrow at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam) head office in Windhoek. The meeting is organised by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
Government policy requires public bodies to source goods and services locally, subject to minimum local content thresholds, as part of efforts to stimulate domestic production and retain economic value within Namibia.
Import dependence under scrutiny
Recent regulatory measures under the Investment Promotion Act, for instance, seek to reserve small-scale retail and agricultural businesses valued below N$7.5 million exclusively for Namibian citizens. The policy aims to protect local entrepreneurs from foreign competition at grassroots level and prioritise citizen-owned enterprises.
Namibia also employs tariffs, import quotas and non-tariff measures to shield infant industries and manage the pace of imports.
Despite these efforts, Namibia imported furniture, lighting signs and prefabricated buildings worth about US$78.24 million in 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database.
Untapped local manufacturing capacity
Officials have repeatedly warned that Namibia’s heavy reliance on imports - estimated at nearly 80% of goods and services consumed locally - undermines industrialisation, job creation and foreign reserve accumulation.
A survey by the ministry of trade across seven government ministries found that, aside from a few items such as cleaning materials, toilet paper and some furniture, most goods procured by government departments are imported.
The report was submitted to Cabinet for direction, although it remains unclear whether any formal guidance has since been issued.
State officials told Namibian Sun that in a directive addressed to finance minister Erica Shafudah, Ngurare invoked sections 72 and 73 of the Public Procurement Act, 2015 (Act No. 15 of 2015), which require public institutions to promote Namibian-made products through procurement.
“I hereby direct that all public entities must prioritise the procurement of furniture manufactured within the Republic of Namibia, where such local production capacity exists,” a correspondence from the prime minister states.
Under the directive, locally manufactured furniture must receive preferential treatment during bid evaluation and award processes. Ngurare said the objective is to advance local content utilisation in public procurement, create employment opportunities, and strengthen small and medium manufacturing enterprises.
Local content to take precedence
The directive is expected to feature prominently at a consultative meeting on the public procurement system scheduled for tomorrow at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam) head office in Windhoek. The meeting is organised by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
Government policy requires public bodies to source goods and services locally, subject to minimum local content thresholds, as part of efforts to stimulate domestic production and retain economic value within Namibia.
Import dependence under scrutiny
Recent regulatory measures under the Investment Promotion Act, for instance, seek to reserve small-scale retail and agricultural businesses valued below N$7.5 million exclusively for Namibian citizens. The policy aims to protect local entrepreneurs from foreign competition at grassroots level and prioritise citizen-owned enterprises.
Namibia also employs tariffs, import quotas and non-tariff measures to shield infant industries and manage the pace of imports.
Despite these efforts, Namibia imported furniture, lighting signs and prefabricated buildings worth about US$78.24 million in 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database.
Untapped local manufacturing capacity
Officials have repeatedly warned that Namibia’s heavy reliance on imports - estimated at nearly 80% of goods and services consumed locally - undermines industrialisation, job creation and foreign reserve accumulation.
A survey by the ministry of trade across seven government ministries found that, aside from a few items such as cleaning materials, toilet paper and some furniture, most goods procured by government departments are imported.
The report was submitted to Cabinet for direction, although it remains unclear whether any formal guidance has since been issued.
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