Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia recorded a trade deficit of N$5.2 billion in February 2026, reversing the N$198 million surplus recorded in January, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) statistician general and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni. The deficit also widened compared to February 2025, when the country recorded a shortfall of N$2.1 billion. South Africa remained Namibia’s largest trading partner for both exports and imports. Shimuafeni said exports were driven by mining products, including non-monetary gold, diamonds, petroleum oils and ores and concentrates of base metals.  He said fish was the only non-mineral product among the top five exports. Re-exports…

Chamwe Kaira  President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says work to upgrade and maintain railway infrastructure across Namibia is ongoing, alongside efforts to build skills in the transport sector. She told lawmakers on Wednesday that 98 young people have been trained in railway maintenance as part of efforts to improve the country’s rail system. Nandi-Ndaitwah said procurement is underway for key projects, including the Trans-Zambezi railway and the Ondangwa–Oshakati Northern railway extension phase three.  The Trans-Kalahari Railway is at the feasibility study stage. The government has also added capacity in the sector.  According to her, a total of 137 new recruits and 57…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s annual inflation rate slowed to 2.1% in March 2026, down from 4.2% recorded in March 2025, according to the Namibian Statistics Agency (NSA). NSA statistician general and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni said monthly inflation rose slightly to 0.2%, compared to 0.0% in February.  Core inflation stood at 2.9%, remaining higher than the headline rate. Regional data shows that zone 2, which includes the Khomas region, recorded the highest annual inflation at 3.2%.  Zone 3, covering ||Karas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke regions recorded 2.0%, while zone 1, which includes northern regions, recorded the lowest rate at 1.0%.…

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) recorded growth in 2025, with total market capitalisation rising to N$2.8 trillion by the end of the year, up from N$2.4 trillion in 2024. Data from the 2025 Bank of Namibia (BoN) annual report shows that the NSX overall index increased by 11% to close at 1 998.49 points, compared to 1 801.18 points in 2024.  The increase followed gains seen in global equity markets during the same period. The local index recorded stronger growth. It rose by 16.8% to 807.75 points, up from 691.32 points a year earlier. Market capitalisation for locally…

Staff Writer The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has approved the proposed acquisition of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa by Coca-Cola HBC AG and its subsidiary Coca-Cola HBC Holdings B.V. The approval was granted without conditions. The transaction will result in Coca-Cola HBC AG and Coca-Cola HBC Holdings B.V. gaining full control of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa. Coca-Cola HBC AG is based in Switzerland and the Netherlands. It is an authorised bottler of The Coca-Cola Company and operates in 29 countries across Europe, Eurasia and Africa.  The group produces and sells soft drinks, water, energy drinks, juices, coffee and tea. It also works with…

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibian Securities Exchange (NSX) recorded a recovery on Wednesday, with most indices closing higher after a weaker performance the previous day. The JSE all share index rose by 3.96% to close at 119 524.15 points, reversing a 0.99% decline recorded on 7 April.  The increase added 4 556.45 points in one session and pushed the index into positive territory for the year, with a 3.19% gain since December 2025. The NSX overall index also increased, rising by 3.90% to 2,276.79 points after a 0.34% decline in the previous session.  The index is now up 6.33% since the…

Staff Writer Organisers of the fourth Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition have opened the call for speakers for the second Namibia Technical Conference. The event will take place in Windhoek from 19 to 21 August 2026. Abstract submissions close on 15 May 2026. The technical conference forms part of the main event. It will focus on technical work, field experience and future plans across the oil and gas sector. The organisers have invited submissions from industry professionals, researchers, innovators, and policymakers. Topics include engineering, project development, operations, offshore petroleum work, and market and financial trends. All submissions will…

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has approved the acquisition of Novaship Namibia by Murrelets Investments, with conditions linked to employment protection. Murrelets Investments will acquire 100% of the shares in Novaship Namibia.  The acquiring company is based in Namibia and has interests in the fishing sector, including management services, investments in fishing companies and shareholdings in related service providers. Novaship Namibia operates in the maritime services sector. It provides ship agency, clearing and forwarding services in Walvis Bay, as well as marine safety and handling services in Walvis Bay and Lüderitz. The commission classified the deal as a…

Staff Writer A Namibian startup has been selected for the fourth edition of the Qualcomm Incorporated Make in Africa Mentorship Programme, placing the country among 10 chosen across the continent. The programme selected 10 early-stage startups from more than 1 200 applications submitted from over 45 African countries.  It forms part of the Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, which supports technology startups. Namibia is represented by Amperra Charging Company. The company is developing an AI-driven electric vehicle charging system designed to adapt to power grid conditions and support electric mobility in Africa. The mentorship programme provides training, technical support and access…

Chamwe Kaira  Old Mutual Limited said the reduction in corporate tax in Namibia from 31% to 30%, effective January 2025, is expected to affect the operating environment for financial institutions. The change follows the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2024. The company also pointed to ongoing regulatory and compliance pressures, noting that Namibia remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FAFT) greylist alongside Kenya and South Sudan.  This requires stronger anti-money laundering controls and compliance measures. Old Mutual said Namibia remains an important part of its Southern Africa operations, supported by its position in asset management and its distribution network. Namibia…