Blue Growth Series 2026 launches

Standard Bank Namibia, in partnership with the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy (NIFA), has launched the second edition of the Standard Bank Blue Growth Series 2026. The initiative expands one of the country’s most structured MSME development programmes to approximately 80 enterprises nationwide and introduces a new informal sector development track.

The launch event gathered government officials, financial sector leaders, and the 2026 cohort of entrepreneurs. It featured a keynote address by deputy education minister, Dino Ballotti, under the theme “Entrepreneurial Mindset for Sustainable MSME Growth.”

“Entrepreneurs need an ecosystem. They need banks that believe in them, mentors to guide them, investors willing to take risks, and policies that enable innovation. That is why initiatives like this matter, because they are building the environment entrepreneurs need to thrive,” said Ballotti.

The expanded programme aligns with national priorities regarding MSME growth, youth entrepreneurship, and informal sector formalisation. It directly supports entrepreneurs in strengthening governance, financial discipline, and investment readiness; these are key requirements for accessing finance and scaling sustainably.

The seven-month programme, delivered by NIFA, includes technical modules on financial management, business strategy, governance, and investment readiness, supported by dedicated sector-specific mentorship. All participants will also receive Bloomberg Finance Fundamentals certification, enabled through the NUST Bloomberg Finance Lab.

“Just a year ago, I sat exactly where many of you are today — an entrepreneur with a vision, but with many questions about how to grow, structure, and scale my business. Through the Blue Growth Series, and the guidance from NIFA and Standard Bank, I found the answers I needed. Ontoko Foods was built from a simple idea: to contribute meaningfully to Namibia’s food value chain by creating products that reflect the potential of our agricultural sector," said Jane Auala of Ontoko Foods and the winnder of the 2025 Blue Growth Series.

"Passion started our journey, but systems, structure, and mentorship turned that passion into a business that can grow. I encourage every entrepreneur in this new cohort to take full advantage of the support available, because the right systems truly make the business,” she added.

A key innovation in 2026 is the dedicated informal sector track, tailored to help micro-enterprises move toward formalisation through practical tools, improved record-keeping, and exposure to formal commercial systems.

“The Blue Growth Series is not merely a training programme; it is a catalyst for sustainable growth and a testament to our purpose: Namibia is our home, and we drive her growth. The primary constraint facing Namibia’s MSMEs is not capital availability, but bankability. This programme closes that gap — systematically and at scale,” said Rodney Coetzee, head of enterprise direct at Standard Bank Namibia.