(3 Minutes Read)
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a significant opportunity for Lüderitz to play a larger role in Namibia’s economic development, said Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi.
Speaking at the Ministerial Business Engagement Series in the //Kharas Region, Ashipala-Musavyi highlighted that Lüderitz is emerging as a strategic location for both regional and international trade, with growing interest from foreign investors. “Lüderitz is already attracting considerable foreign investment. We must leverage this momentum to take full advantage of the AfCFTA’s potential,” she noted. She emphasized that the private sector is essential in driving economic progress through job creation, innovation, and tax contributions. Government’s current focus, she said, is to collaborate with businesses to address policy gaps, broaden market access, and improve the competitiveness of Namibian products across Africa.
“We need to rethink how Lüderitz operates—how events like the Crayfish Festival can be optimized, how we can improve product reach across the country and continent, and how to boost local economic participation,” she added. The Minister also pointed to local efforts such as land expansion, infrastructure improvements, and land tenure reforms aimed at attracting investment and industrial growth. Simultaneously, national initiatives are focusing on value addition, manufacturing, and support for small businesses, women, and youth entrepreneurs.
She affirmed that the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Industries, Mines, and Energy, is committed to enhancing investment, diversifying products, and improving market access. “Our products should not be exported in raw form—we must retain more value locally,” she stressed.
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Namibia signed the AfCFTA in 2018 and ratified it in 2019, positioning itself to fully engage in the continental market. The AfCFTA aims to ease trade and investment across Africa, remove tariffs, enhance infrastructure, reduce unemployment, and create a more dynamic environment for intra-African trade. It is projected to boost trade within Africa by over 52% and potentially grow the continent’s economy to US$29 trillion by 2050.
