We lost very important projects - Nandi-Ndaitwah

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has admitted that Namibia has lost major investment projects because of government bureaucracy, exposing a long-standing problem that has left billions of dollars in potential investments struggling to materialise.Her admission comes against a backdrop of N$15 billion in investment projects facing administrative and regulatory obstacles, while the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) had previously identified N$224.7 billion in potential investments struggling with policy uncertainty, lengthy approval processes and difficulties accessing land.In October, international relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi disclosed that 15 investment projects were encountering obstacles involving land access, environmental approvals, visas and other regulatory requirements.Another 94 projects remained in the investment pipeline, with the potential to create approximately 22 000 jobs.The president's admission has brought renewed attention to these obstacles, which have repeatedly been identified by government officials as threats to investment and employment creation.“I have witnessed as a Minister of International Relations and Cooperation very serious investors who wanted to invest in Namibia, but they got frustrated by our bureaucratic systems and we lost very important projects,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.She made the comment while speaking at the launch of Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote's petroleum storage and regional pipeline project at Walvis Bay on 4 November.The president revealed that investors planning to establish a shipyard in the Erongo region had abandoned the project after four years of delays.“The investors were serious, and they wanted to move. After four years, they had to withdraw,” she said.Nandi-Ndaitwah also disclosed that bureaucratic obstacles had threatened Dangote's investment, forcing her to intervene personally to persuade him to remain committed to Namibia.“I had to call Mr Dangote and plead with him that, ‘Please hold on. I will make it work’”.She subsequently placed the project under the supervision of the Office of the President, with National Planning Commission director-general Kaire Mbuende tasked with coordinating its implementation.Trade minister raises alarmJust a month before the Dangote launch, Ashipala-Musavyi had raised similar concerns about investors losing interest because of prolonged delays.During a briefing with Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare on 5 October, she disclosed that government was working to unlock N$15 billion in investment projects.“When an investor waits for a year, two years, they lose interest,” the minister warned.The briefing also revealed that 27 investment projects facilitated through the NIPDB had become operational over the preceding three years, creating approximately 6 600 jobs.Ngurare subsequently directed government institutions to identify practical solutions to the bottlenecks and improve coordination to prevent avoidable delays.ChallengesThe problem had already been documented in May 2025, when former NIPDB chief executive Nangula Nelulu Uaandja warned that potential investment projects worth N$224.7 billion were struggling to materialise because of policy uncertainty, slow approvals and difficulties accessing land.A foreign direct investment report cited by the NIPDB identified unclear investment incentives and data protection policies, delays in processing permits and licences, and limited access to land as major obstacles.“We have seen an inflow of investment projects with the potential to create significant employment opportunities. However, many of these projects are struggling to materialise due to various challenges,” the report stated.The N$224.7 billion investment pipeline extended across several sectors of the economy, demonstrating that the difficulties were not confined to mining or petroleum developments.“To realise these investments and unlock jobs, Namibia must address land availability, finalise relevant policies and incentives, and streamline permit and visa issuance to ensure swift investment facilitation,” the report stated.The concerns have also been raised internationally, with the International Monetary Fund, in its 2025 assessment of Namibia's economy, calling for reforms to reduce burdensome regulations and policy uncertainty, including delays in passing legislation intended to improve the investment environment.The fund identified the need to strengthen private sector growth and job creation, warning that Namibia's dependence on mining and the public sector had not generated sufficient employment opportunities.

We lost very important projects - Nandi-Ndaitwah

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-09

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We lost very important projects - Nandi-Ndaitwah

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-09

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