N$81m not sufficient for SMEs, says Ballotti

Deputy minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Dino Ballotti has criticised the N$81 million allocation to small business development as inadequate, calling for the establishment of a dedicated micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) agency to drive economic diversification and job creation.

In a social media statement, Ballotti said the current funding under Programme 7 falls short of what is required to meaningfully support Namibia’s entrepreneurial sector.

“It is my view that the N$81 million budget is unfortunately not sufficient,” he said, adding that Namibia lacks both a dedicated ministry and an agency focused on MSME development.

He proposed consolidating existing allocations — estimated at N$314 million across trade promotion, investment and small business programmes — to establish a well-resourced MSME Development Agency.

“An MSME agency must never merely be an office that hands out BIPA forms; it should be a targeted organisation that drives job creation,” he said.

Push for localisation

Ballotti also called for stronger localisation policies, including reducing reliance on imports such as bottled water and school uniforms.

“We must do away with South African water in Namibia… it cannot continue,” he said, arguing that local production could create jobs.

He further highlighted the importance of expanding trade fairs to improve market access for small businesses.

Despite his criticism, Ballotti said he supports the ministry’s overall budget vote.

Energy plans and gaps

His remarks come as the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy tabled a N$826.6 million budget for 2026/27, a 3% decrease from the previous year.

Minister Modestus Amutse said the allocation will support industrial development and energy security, including projects aimed at increasing national generation capacity from 759 to 903 megawatts.

The ministry also reported that nearly 8 000 households were connected to electricity in the past financial year, but acknowledged a funding gap, with N$810 million needed to meet its 2026/27 target.

Programme 7 remains allocated just over N$81 million to support SME development initiatives.