Namibia courts French capital in Nairobi

Vice President Lucia Witbooi and international relations and trade Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi are in Nairobi this week for the Africa Forward Summit, a high-level gathering co-chaired by Kenya and France to deepen Africa-France economic ties through private-sector investment, green growth, and digital transformation.

On the sidelines of the summit, which runs until 13 May, Witbooi met with French and Namibian business leaders under the MEDEFI delegation framework on Monday, using the occasion to position Namibia as a leading investment destination in sub-Saharan Africa.

"Namibia is a leading investment prospect in sub-Saharan Africa and a fast-growing, prosperous, and peaceful investment destination, with solid good governance and adherence to democratic values," Witbooi said.

She identified seven pillars around which Namibia is actively seeking investment: agriculture, youth empowerment, sports, creative industries, quality education, quality health, and land, housing and sanitation.

The Vice President said Namibia has made notable progress in diversifying its economy beyond traditional sectors such as mining and agriculture. She pointed to growth in oil and gas exploration, tourism, manufacturing, digital and global business services, and technology as areas that have created new opportunities for investors, and called on French partners to participate in value addition to Namibia's mineral resources.

"I wish to encourage you to consider Namibia as your next investment destination," she said.

Ashipala-Musavyi said the partnership between Namibia and France extends beyond traditional diplomacy, with a dedicated Namibia-France programme having already brought together industry leaders from both countries to explore new investment frontiers. While energy remains a significant pillar of the bilateral relationship, she said Namibia is actively marketing opportunities in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.

A Namibia-France Business Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, providing a further platform to present those opportunities to potential investors. Ashipala-Musavyi said the response to the forum had far exceeded expectations, which she said reflected growing global confidence in Namibia's economic trajectory.

She said the engagements are aimed at catalysing industrial growth and accelerating job creation, and expressed hope that they would yield tangible outcomes for the broader Namibian economy.