Observer Money

Staff Writer The Ocean Innovation Africa Summit 2026, held in Durban at the end of March, brought together 581 delegates from 36 countries and hosted more than 420 business meetings focused on Africa’s blue economy ventures and innovations. The director general of the European Commission’s maritime affairs and fisheries department, Charlina Vitcheva, said progress in the sector depends on turning commitments into action through Africa-Europe cooperation. Salma Baghdadi, Innovation Lead at The Wave, said ocean regeneration requires strong systems around innovation. She emphasised the need for stakeholders to connect, ensuring that science drives solutions, those solutions penetrate the market and…

Chamwe Kaira Namibia produced 556 000 carats of diamonds in the first quarter ending 31 March 2026, up from 459 000 carats in the fourth quarter of 2025. Production, however, was down 12% compared to the first quarter of 2025.  The decline was linked to scheduled maintenance on two vessels at Debmarine Namibia and the decommissioning of two vessels in 2025. Debmarine Namibia produced 354 000 carats in the first quarter, compared to 286 000 carats in the previous quarter. Namdeb land operations produced 202 000 carats in the first quarter, up from 173 000 carats in the fourth quarter…

Chamwe Kaira The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia (AOPA Namibia) has warned that Namibia’s aviation sector is exposed to fuel supply and pricing risks due to single-supplier concessions at airports. AOPA Namibia chief executive officer Matt Totten Jr said airports operated by the Namibia Airports Company rely on one fuel provider at each facility. He said this leaves airlines, charter operators and general aviation users exposed to supply disruptions and price pressure. “The era of single-supplier airport concessions must end,” Totten said. He said recent regional fuel concerns have highlighted a long-standing weakness in the airport operating model.…

Chamwe Kaira Investor confidence in government bonds remains firm, with yields holding steady across the curve, according to a Namibian Securities Exchange (NSX) bond price report released on Monday. Monday was a non-trading day for the equity market, but bond market data was still published. Short-term government bonds continued to show stable yields.  The BN25, maturing in November 2026, held a yield of about 10% with a price of 96.29. The GC27 bond stood at 98.45, with a yield of 7.27% ahead of its January 2027 maturity. Medium-term bonds also remained steady. GC28, maturing in October 2028, recorded a yield…

Staff Writer FirstRand Namibia has announced the resignation of independent non-executive director Jan Coetzee, effective 30 April 2026. The company said Coetzee stepped down in line with Namibia Securities Exchange listing requirements governing director changes. Coetzee joined the board on 1 October 2021 and served the financial services group for nearly four and a half years.  During this time, he held oversight roles and served on the audit committee and the risk, capital and compliance committee. In a notice to shareholders issued on Tuesday, FirstRand Namibia said the board had expressed its sincere appreciation for Coetzee’s service and thanked him…

Staff Writer The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Technical Support Mission on international credit ratings has started a three-day visit to Namibia aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to engage with global credit rating agencies. The mission began with meetings with National Planning Commission (NPC) director-general Kaire Mbuende and APRM focal point and chief executive officer ambassador Lineekela Mboti.  The visit forms part of an African Union initiative to support member states in managing the global credit rating system. Led by APRM lead expert researcher on international credit ratings Misheck Mutize, the mission will assess challenges Namibia faces during the…

Staff Writer The Ohlthaver & List Group has retained its great place to work accreditation for the 2026/27 cycle after recording a trust index score of 69%. The accreditation is awarded by the Great Place To Work Institute and is based on anonymous employee feedback on workplace culture. O&L executive chairman Sven Thieme said the result reflects a collective effort across the group and aligns with its Vision 2029 goal. “While we celebrate our progress, we remain intentional about improvement. Our goal is to ensure that O&L remains an employer of choice that contributes meaningfully to the future of Namibia…

Staff Writer Old Mutual Namibia has committed N$150 000 to the Cirrus Capital Investment Conference 2026 held in Swakopmund. The contribution was made by Old Mutual Wealth, Old Mutual Investment Group Namibia, Old Mutual Corporate Segment, and the Group Marketing, Public Affairs, and Sustainability departments. The conference, hosted by Cirrus Capital under the theme “Why Namibia”, brought together investors, financial institutions, policymakers and business leaders from Namibia and the region. Discussions focused on the country’s economic outlook, key sectors and investment opportunities. As part of its involvement, Old Mutual Namibia hosted investors and stakeholders at a cocktail networking event held…

Staff Writer A funding commitment of more than US$1.1 billion by the European Investment Bank is set to support renewable energy projects across Africa, but experts say it addresses only part of a wider electricity gap affecting millions. More than 600 million people on the continent still lack access to electricity, a shortage that continues to limit basic services and economic activity. Dr Tebogo Kupi from the Centre for Applied Radiation Science and Technology at North-West University said the investment is important but not enough on its own. “This level of investment is important in catalysing renewable energy development, particularly…

Chamwe Kaira The country's planned new surveillance infrastructure for air navigation services, including primary and secondary radar systems, an air traffic management system and wide multilateration, will cost about N$500 million, Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) executive director Toska Sem has revealed. Sem said civil aviation is a key enabler in the aviation industry, which requires Namibia to meet international standards and requirements. She said Namibia has achieved a safety audit score above 75%, exceeding the 60% benchmark set by the African Union. Sem spoke during the third edition of Aviation Week Africa held in Windhoek last week, where high-level…