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Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s informal economy contributes about US$13 billion (approximately N$240.5 billion) in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms and remains one of the largest drivers of employment and income in the country. According to the national informal economy, startups and entrepreneurship development policy (NIESEP), the informal economy contributed an estimated 24.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, roughly US$8 billion (N$148 billion) in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. By 2025, this share has grown to 26.5%, equal to about US$13 billion.  The informal economy also employs about 58% of the country's workforce, making it a central part of the…

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s mining sector showed mixed but steady performance in September as global economic conditions remained fragile. This is according to the Chamber of Mines of Namibia’s monthly mining update for September. Despite trade disruptions and higher tariffs, uranium and gold continued to drive growth and sustain export earnings, confirming the sector’s importance to the national economy. “While the global outlook remains uncertain, Namibia’s mining industry continues to show resilience,” said Veston Malango, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Mines.  “Strong uranium and gold performance, coupled with investor confidence in our critical-mineral potential, positions Namibia well for long-term…

Staff Writer Standard Bank Namibia and RMB Namibia, in partnership with Terminal Investment Namibia (TIN), will fund a N$2.1 billion project to modernise the Port of Walvis Bay. The investment will help transform the port into a leading African transshipment hub. The collaboration supports TIN’s capital expenditure programme, which aims to upgrade terminal operations, increase capacity, and strengthen Namibia’s role as a key gateway for regional trade.  The project follows Namport’s decision to grant TIN a 25-year concession to operate and maintain the container terminal at Walvis Bay. Standard Bank Namibia and RMB Namibia structured and arranged the external funding…

Staff Writer Acacia-Composites Manufacturing, Africa’s only producer of Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) decking, cladding and battens, has signed a distribution agreement with Halsted Builders Express Zimbabwe, the leading construction and building supply company in Zimbabwe. The partnership follows an introduction to Acacia-Composites Manufacturing’s products at WoodEX for Africa in Johannesburg earlier this year.  During a visit to the Windhoek manufacturing plant, Halsted chief executive officer Stuart Knight was impressed by the quality of Acacia’s products. As a result, the two companies agreed to bring Acacia’s WPC decking to the Zimbabwean market.  The order of high-performance decking marks a key step…

Staff Writer The Nissan X-TRAIL is celebrating 25 years since its launch, marking a milestone for one of the world’s most popular SUVs. Introduced in 2000, the first-generation X-TRAIL (T30: 2000–2007) pioneered a new motoring category. It combined comfort, performance, and practicality in a 4WD vehicle, breaking the perception that such cars were heavy on fuel. The T30 featured a spacious interior designed for outdoor and sports use, a large cargo area, washable luggage boards, and water-repellent seats.  In 2003, a model update improved driver comfort with a pop-up steering wheel that tilted up to 45 degrees. The “Hyper Roof…