Patience Makwele
Vice president Lucia Witbooi has called on French businesses to invest in Namibia.
Speaking during a meeting with French businesses and the MEDEF International delegation in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday, Witbooi promoted Namibia as a stable investment destination with opportunities in oil and gas, technology, tourism and creative industries.
The engagement forms part of government efforts to attract foreign direct investment as Namibia faces growing pressure to address unemployment, especially among young people.
Witbooi said the government is prioritising investment in agriculture, youth empowerment, sports, creative industries, education, healthcare, housing and sanitation to drive economic growth and create opportunities.
“We are inviting you to partner with us in value addition to our mineral resources,” she told the delegation.
She said Namibia has made progress in diversifying its economy through growth in oil and gas exploration, manufacturing, digital services and technology.
Witbooi described Namibia as a peaceful and democratic country with strong governance and said it remains one of the leading investment destinations in sub-Saharan Africa.
Witbooi encouraged French companies to partner with Namibian businesses and invest in the country.
“It is my hope that discussions at this event will lead to tangible results for our mutual benefits,” she said.
The investment drive comes as Namibia continues to attract international attention following offshore oil discoveries, with the government positioning the country as a future energy and industrial hub.
Economist Xavier Gerharda Aebes said foreign investment alone would not solve unemployment unless projects create local jobs, develop skills and support small businesses.
“Foreign investment is important, but Namibians want to see tangible outcomes. People want jobs, they want opportunities and they want to participate in the economy beyond just hearing announcements about billion-dollar investments,” he said.
Aebes said Namibia’s political stability and growing energy sector could attract investors but warned that bureaucracy and delays in project implementation could discourage investment.
“There is definitely global interest in Namibia right now because of oil and gas, but investors also look at how quickly projects move, policy certainty and infrastructure readiness,” he said.
Aebes said Namibia’s challenge would be ensuring foreign investment supports long-term economic growth and local supply chains instead of isolated mega-projects.
“The real question is how Namibia converts international interest into sustainable economic activity that supports local supply chains and creates broad-based employment,” he said.
He stated that properly structured investments in sectors such as housing, sanitation, agriculture and technology could yield broader economic benefits.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, youth unemployment remains one of the country’s biggest socio-economic challenges.
Windhoek-based creative entrepreneur Emilia /Noreses welcomed the inclusion of creative industries among the government’s priority sectors.
“Creative industries are not just entertainment anymore. Young people are making money through digital content, fashion, photography, film and music, but many struggle to access funding and proper support,” she said.
She said foreign investment could help grow the creative sector if local talent benefits from partnerships.
“Young creatives do not just need promises. They need studios, training, markets and access to finance,” she added.
Youth activist Fillipus Ngaifiwa said many young Namibians remain frustrated by unemployment and want to see practical results from investment campaigns.
“Every year we hear about investment conferences and partnerships, but the reality is many graduates are sitting at home without jobs. The focus now should be implementation,” he said.
Ngaifiwa said youth empowerment should be measured through jobs and support for startups.
