WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 214 - 
 
  ANNEX 4 : NAMIBIA  
  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 215 - 
 
  CONTENTS  
1   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  ................................ ................................ ......................  219  
1.1   Main features of the economy  ................................ ................................ ....................  219 
1.2   Recent economic developments  ................................ ................................ ..................  219 
1.3   Developments in trade and foreign investment  ................................ .............................  220 
1.3.1    Merchandise trade  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 220 
1.3.2    Trade in services  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 221 
1.3.3    Foreign direct investment  ................................ ................................ .......................  221 
2   TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES ................................ ................................ .........  227  
2.1   General framework  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 227 
2.2   Trade policy formulation and objectives  ................................ ................................ ....... 228 
2.3   Trade agreements and arrangements  ................................ ................................ ..........  228 
2.3.1    WTO ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  228 
2.3.2    Regional trade agreements  ................................ ................................ .....................  229 
2.3.3    Unilateral preference s ................................ ................................ ............................  229 
2.4   Investment regime  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 229 
3   TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  ................................ ......................  232  
3.1   Measures directly affecting imports  ................................ ................................ .............  232 
3.1.1    Customs procedures and requirements  ................................ ................................ ..... 232 
3.1.2    Customs valuation  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 233 
3.1.3    Rules of origin  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 233 
3.1.4    Tariffs  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  234 
3.1.4.1    Bindings  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  234 
3.1.4.2    Applied MFN tariffs  ................................ ................................ ..............................  234 
3.1.4.3    Tariff preferences  ................................ ................................ ................................  234 
3.1.4.4    Infant industry protection  ................................ ................................ ....................  234 
3.1.4.5    SACU rebates  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 234 
3.1.4.6    Tariff quotas  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 234 
3.1.5    Other charges affecting imports  ................................ ................................ ...............  235 
3.1.5.1    Value  added tax  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 235 
3.1.5.2    Excise duties  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 235 
3.1.5.3    Environmental levies  ................................ ................................ ...........................  235 
3.1.5.4    Other import levies  ................................ ................................ .............................  235 
3.1.6    Anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures  ................................ ..............  236 
3.1.7    Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  ................................ ..........................  236 
3.1.7.1    Import licensing  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 236 
3.1.7.2    Import prohibitions and restrictions  ................................ ................................ ....... 236 
3.1.8    Other measures  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 237 
3.2   Measures directly affecting exports  ................................ ................................ .............  237 
3.2.1    Customs procedures and requirements  ................................ ................................ ..... 237 WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 216 - 
 
  3.2.2    Taxes, charges, and levies  ................................ ................................ ......................  237 
3.2.3    Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  ................................ ...........................  237 
3.2.4    Export support and promotion  ................................ ................................ .................  238 
3.2.4.1    Export support  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 238 
3.2.4.2    Export processing zones  ................................ ................................ ......................  238 
3.2.4.3    Export promotion  ................................ ................................ ................................  239 
3.2.5    Export finance, insurance, and guarantees  ................................ ................................  239 
3.3   Measures affecting production and trade  ................................ ................................ ..... 239 
3.3.1    Incentives  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  239 
3.3.2    Standards and other technical require ments  ................................ .............................  240 
3.3.3    Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements  ................................ ................................ .. 241 
3.3.4    Competition policy and price controls  ................................ ................................ ....... 243 
3.3.5    State trading, state -owned enterprises, and privatization  ................................ ...........  244 
3.3.6    Government procurement  ................................ ................................ .......................  245 
3.3.7    Intellectual property rights  ................................ ................................ ......................  246 
3.3.7.1    Overview  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  246 
3.3.7.2    Copyright  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  247 
3.3.7.3    Industrial property rights  ................................ ................................ .....................  247 
3.3.7.4    Enforcement  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 248 
4   TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  ................................ ................................ ...................  249  
4.1   Agriculture and forestry  ................................ ................................ .............................  249 
4.1.1    Main features  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  249 
4.1.2    Agricultural policy  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 249 
4.1.2.1    Policy framework  ................................ ................................ ................................  249 
4.1.2.2    Input subsidy schemes  ................................ ................................ ........................  250 
4.1.2.3    Strategic food reserve  ................................ ................................ .........................  251 
4.1.3    Market access  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 252 
4.1.3.1    Tariff quotas  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 252 
4.1.3.2    Quantitative restrictions  ................................ ................................ .......................  252 
4.1.3.3    Namibian Horticulture Market Share Promotion Scheme  ................................ ...........  253 
4.1.3.4    Grain Marketing Mechanism  ................................ ................................ .................  253 
4.1.4    Export measures  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 254 
4.2   Fisheries  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  254 
4.3   Mining and energy  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 257 
4.3.1    Mining  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  257 
4.3.2    Oil and  natural gas ................................ ................................ ................................ . 259 
4.3.3    Electricity  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  260 
4.4   Manufacturing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  261 
4.5   Services  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  262 
4.5.1    Financial services  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 262 WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 217 - 
 
  4.5.1.1    Banking services  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 262 
4.5.1.2    Insurance services  ................................ ................................ ..............................  263 
4.5.2    Telecommunications services  ................................ ................................ ..................  264 
4.5.3    Transport services  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 265 
4.5.3.1    Maritime transport  ................................ ................................ ..............................  265 
4.5.3.2    Air transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 266 
4.5.3.3    Road transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 267 
4.5.3.4    Rail transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 268 
4.5.4    Tourism  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  268 
5   APPENDIX TABLES  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 270  
 
CHARTS  
 
Chart  1.1 Product composition of merchandise trade, 2014 and 2022  ................................ ..... 223 
Chart  1.2 Domestic exports versus re -exports, 2014 -22 ................................ .......................  224 
Chart  1.3 Direction of merchandise trade, 2014 and 2022  ................................ .....................  225 
 
TABLES  
 
Table  1.1 Selected macroeconomic indicators, 2014 -22 ................................ ........................  221 
Table  1.2 Trade in services, 2014 -22 ................................ ................................ ..................  226 
Table  3.1 Summary of EPZ enterprises, 2021  ................................ ................................ ...... 239 
Table  3.2 Namibia's commercial SOEs  ................................ ................................ ................  245 
Table  3.3 Namibia's membership in regional and international IPR bodies, 2023  ......................  247 
Table  3.4 Intellectual property registrations, FY2018/19 -FY2021/22  ................................ ....... 248 
Table  4.1 Value of agricultural production in Namibia, 2014 -21 ................................ ..............  250 
Table  4.2 Production and im ports of controlled agronomic crops, 2016 -20 ..............................  253 
Table  4.3 Value of fish and fish products, 2015 -21 ................................ ...............................  255 
Table  4.4 Exports of ores and minerals, 2014 -22 ................................ ................................ . 259 
Table  4.5 Namibia's electricity sources, FY2014 -22 ................................ ..............................  261 
Table  4.6 Gross insurance premiums, 2014 -22 ................................ ................................ .... 264 
Table  4.7 Freight handling by Namibia's ports, 2014 -22 ................................ ........................  266 
Table  4.8 TransNamib cargo and passenger transport, 2014 -22 ................................ .............  268 
Table  4.9 International tourist arrivals, 2014 -22 ................................ ................................ .. 269 
 
 
APPENDIX TABLES  
 
Table  A1.1 Domestic exports of merchandise by HS section, 2014 -22 ................................ ..... 270 
Table  A1.2 Domestic exports of merchandise by destination, 2014 -22 ................................ .... 272 
Table  A1.3 Merchandise imports by HS section, 2014 -22 ................................ ......................  273 
Table  A1.4 Merchandise imports by origin, 2014 -22 ................................ .............................  274 WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 218 - 
 
  Table  A3.1 Non -exhaustive list of import prohibitions and restrictions, 2022  ............................  275 
Table  A4.1 Fish landings, 2014 -22 ................................ ................................ .....................  276 
 
 WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 219 - 
 
  1  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
1.1  Main features of the economy  
1.1.  Namibia is a vast and sparsely populated country . Its economy is based mainly on agriculture, 
mining, and tourism . With a per  capita income of about US D 5,000  (Table  1.1), Namibia is classified 
as an upper -middle -income country. Nevertheless, it is still facing  significant economic and social 
challenges.  The country has been suffering from long-term rising  unemployment  (about 21% 
in 2022), particularly among youth , and i ncome inequality  is among the highest in the world .1 There 
is a high level of urban migration.  Access to electricity especial ly in the rural areas is limited , and 
the cost of broadband Internet  is high. 
1.2.  The majority of Namibians rely on subsistence or commercial farming for their livelihood s. 
Agriculture  and forestry  contribute about 7% to GDP, with livestock  farming accounting for well over 
half. With only a very small portion of the  large, arid country suitable for arable farming , Namibia is 
a net -importer of agricultural products.  Its Exclusive Economic Zone  (EEZ) is one of the most 
productive fishing grounds in the world. Fisheries contribute about 3% to GDP , and the country 
exports virtually  all of its annual catch, contributing a lmost 20 % to merchandise exports.  
1.3.  The mining and quarrying sector contribut es about 11% to GDP and about 60% of merchandise 
exports. Namibia is a major source of gem -quality diamonds and among the world's largest uranium 
ore producers.  All petroleum  products  are imported, while  exploration  is under way for  offshore 
reserves of natural gas  and crude oil. The countr y relies on imports for about 60%-80% o f its 
electricity  supply , as its considerable solar and wind power potential is still under  develop ment.2 
1.4.  The manufacturing sector contributes about 12% to GDP. The largest subsector is the food, 
milling , and beverage industr y, followed by diamond processing.  The services sector accounts for 
about 62% of  GDP, led by w holesale  and retail trade  and repairs.  
1.5.  Trade plays an important role in the economy . Trade in goods and services is equival ent to 
about 90% of GDP , and public finances  are highly dependent on  – albeit volatile  – trade -related tax 
revenues from SACU  (varying between 8% and 13% of GDP  over the review period ). 
1.2  Recent economic developments  
1.6.  Since  its independence in 1990  until 2016 , Namibia enjoyed  a growing economy year after 
year (except 1993 ). Driven by a commodity boom and expansionary fiscal policy, economic growth 
accelerated during the 2010-15 period  (averag ing 5.3% annually) , with rising m acroeconomic 
imbalances . 
1.7.  In 2016, Namibia entered its most challenging economic phase, beginning with economic 
stagnation until 2019, as the country was hit with  two devastating droughts (2016  and 2019) and 
culminating with a record  recession  in 2020 in the wake of the C OVID -19 pandemic ; GDP fell 
by 8.1%.  In 2021, the economy started to gradually recover (up by 3.5%)  and growth accelerated 
to 4.6% in 2022, owing to the lifting of all C OVID -19-related restrictions in March  2022, and a 
significant increase in diamond production (up by 45%) .3 
1.8.  Namibia's economic policy is general ly aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth, and 
reducing poverty , unemployment, and income inequality. The Government accordingly  operates 
under the broad  direction of three development plan s in order to address these and other 
 
1 The Gini coefficient is estimated at 59.1% (2015).  
2 Renewable energy, other than hydropower, contributed about 9% to the electricity supply in 2022.  
3 Bank of Namibia, 2022 Annual Report . Viewed  at: https://www.bon.com.na/Publications/Annual -
Report.aspx#mainContentWrapper . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 220 - 
 
  socioeconomic challenges, namely Vision 20304, the 5th National Development Plan  (NDP5) 
(2017/18 -2021/22)5, and the Harambee Prosperity Plan II (2020 -25).6 
1.9.  The Government has committed to reduc ing the rising fiscal imbalances  and stabiliz ing the 
public debt . In consequence, d espite relief measures during the drought years, t he budget deficit 
declined from 6.8% of GDP in 2016 to 5% in 2019, mainly through measures to improve tax 
collection by the Namibia Revenue Authority  (NamR A). However,  during the C OVID -19 
pandemic  (2020 -21), the budget deficit widened again to 8%-9% of GDP  as a result of constrained  
economic activity  and a fall in  revenue from  the SACU pool. Namibia usually derives about one  third 
of its tax revenues  from the SACU revenue pool  (Table  1.1).7 Also, the Government launched a 
major economic relief programme in response to the pandemic  (COVID -19 Economic Stimulus and 
Relief Package)  with expenditures equivalent to about 3.3% of GDP.8 
1.10.   The p ublic debt , which stood at 25.6% of GDP in 2014, increased  sharply, reaching 55.9% 
by 2019 and 71% of GDP by end-2022. Most of the debt is domestically financed.  According to the 
Bank of Namibia  (BoN), "Namibia 's fiscal consolidation strategy is crucial to preserve debt 
sustainability. Containing the wage bill, advancing the reform of state -owned enterprises, and 
strengthening tax administration are key".9 In 2020, Namibia created a sovereign wealth 
fund (Welwitschia Fund) , which is to be managed by the BoN once the expected windfall profits from 
gas and oil resources materialize.  
1.11.   Inflation generally tracks that of South  Africa  due to the currency  peg (at par) to the 
South  Africa n rand through Namibia's membership in the Common Monetary Area, and strong trade 
links between the two  countries  (Section 1.3.1) . The South  Africa n rand is a legal tender in Namibia.  
Thus, in practice, monetary policy is largely driven by the South  Africa n Reserve Bank with limited 
scope for the BoN . 
1.12.   Inflation had been on the decline  until it picked up again in 2020-21 (Table 1.1), primarily 
due to COVID -19 supply disruptions and rising energy prices, together with exchange rate 
depreciation.  Basic food items are zero -rated for VAT  purposes  to contain food price inflation and 
alleviate food insecurity. Monetary policy was tightened in 2022 with the policy (repo) rate rising 
from 3.75% in January to 6.75% in December.  The real effective exchange rate depreciated over 
the review period, indicating a gain in international competitiveness by Namibian products.  
1.13.   The improved competitiveness and the resultant  lower annual merchandise trade deficit s, 
mainly through a substantial decline in the import bill , narrowed  the current account deficit  
until 2020. However, since 2021, Namibia has again been running rising current account deficit s 
along with growing merchandise trade deficit s and a sharp decline in SACU transfers . Financial 
account inflows were large enough to offset the deficit s and allow international reserves to remain 
constant  and equivalent to  4.2 month s' coverage for imports of goods and services  at end -2022 
(Table  1.1). 
1.3  Developments in trade and foreign investment  
1.3.1   Merchandise trade  
1.14.   The COVID -19 pandemic has dramatically decreased  Namibia's trade in goods (Chart  1.1, 
Tables  A1.1 and A1. 3). The structure of its exports remains broadly unchanged. A few mineral 
commodities, namely diamonds, uranium , and gold, account for close to 60% domestic exports. 
Frozen fish and fish products are the main non -mineral export, followed by live animals (mainly 
 
4 National Planning Commission, Vision  2030. Viewed  at: https://www.npc.gov.na/national -plans/vision -
2030/ . 
5 National Planning Commission, NDP5 . Viewed  at: https://www.npc.gov.na/national -plans/national -
plans -ndp-5/. 
6 Office of the Prime Minister, Harambee Prosperity Plan, 2021 -2025. Viewed  at: https://hppii.gov.na/ . 
7 IMF (2022), Namibia: Staff Report for the 2022 Article  IV Consultation , IMF Country Report 
No. 22/364, p.  27. Viewed  at: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2022/12/12/Namibia -2022-
Article -IV-Consultation -Press -Release -Staff-Report -and-Statement -by-the-526862 . 
8 IMF Country Report No.  22/364 , p. 61. 
9 BoN, 2022 Annual Report , p. 134. Viewed  at: https://www.bon.com.na/Publications/Annual -
Report.aspx#mainContentWrapper . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 221 - 
 
  cattle and sheep) , and fruit and nuts . The bulk of Namibia's non-mineral exports benefit from 
preferential access to the European  Union  (fish, grapes , and "fuel wood and wood charcoal").  
1.15.   South  Africa  remains the largest trading partner for exports as well as imports. Namibian 
exports to non -SACU African count ries are modest at about 8% of the total. Exports to China have 
increased sharply, reflecting strong demand for uranium ore and blister copper (Table  A1.2). 
Furthermore, Namibia has recorded an increase in re -exports, mainly of transport equipment and 
mach inery to neighbouring non -SACU countries (Chart  1.2) 
1.16.   Imports  of goods  are sourced mainly from South  Africa  and Europe (Chart  1.3, Tables  A1.3 
and A1.4) . Significant  import s include food, fuel, chemicals, automotive products , and transport 
equipment.  
1.3.2   Trade in s ervices  
1.17.   Namibia's exports of services are concentrated in travel and transport services, which 
increased  strongly in 2022 along with the recovery of tourism as pandemic -related restrictions were 
lifted (Table  1.2). Exports of manufacturing services were significant , which are mainly for services 
rendered in converting copper ore into blister copper.  
1.18.   Imports of services are concentrated in transport services , maintenance and repair services, 
and telecom, computer & in formation services, which have grown  strongly in recent years.  
1.3.3   Foreign direct investment  
1.19.   FDI in Namibia is concentrated in the capital -intensive mining  and quarrying  sector ( 63.0% 
of the FDI stock  at end -2022), follow ed by financial services ( 20.9%). China and South  Africa  
accounted , respectively , for 42.4% and 3 0.4% of the FDI stock , follow ed by Mauritius ( 6.6%).10 
Following net-outflows of FDI in 2019-20 during the pandemic, the FDI flows  into Namibia  increased 
significantly in 2021-22 (Table  1.1), m ainly due to foreign capital injections to finance oil exploration 
activities  and a higher uptake of intercompany loans to domestic subsidiaries .11 
Table  1.1 Selected macroeconomic indicators, 2014 -22 
 
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
GDP (current NAD  billion ) 134.8  146.0  157.7  171.6  181.1  181.2  174.2  183.9  206.2  
GDP (current USD  billion)  12.4 11.3 10.7 12.9 13.7 12.5 10.6 12.4 12.6 
Real GDP growth (annual %)  6.1 4.3 0.0 -1.0 1.1 -0.8 -8.1 3.5 4.6 
GDP per capita (USD)  5,556.5  4,969.4  4,613.6  5,440.1  5,667.8  5,100.3  4,226.7  4,880.9  4,854.6  
Population (million)  2.2 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.6 
CPI (annual % change)  5.4 3.4 6.7 6.1 4.3 3.7 2.2 3.6 6.1 
Unemployment rate (%)  28.1 20.9 34.0 21.7 33.4 20.0 21.2 21.3 .. 
Unemployment rate (%) 
(model led ILO estimate)  18.5 20.9 23.4 21.7 19.9 20.0 21.2 21.3 20.8 
GDP by economic activity (% of GDP at basic current prices)  
Agriculture, forestry & fishing  8.8 7.2 7.3 8.3 8.4 7.7 9.8 10.3 9.3 
Livestock farming  3.0 2.5 2.3 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.8 4.3 3.5 
Crop farming and forestry  2.5 1.8 1.9 2.3 2.5 1.8 3.1 3.2 3.1 
Fishing & fish processing on 
board  3.3 2.9 3.1 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.7 
Mining & quarrying  10.3 9.6 10.2 8.8 9.6 9.8 9.9 10.0 13.3 
Diamond mining  6.8 5.9 5.0 4.2 4.7 3.6 2.9 3.4 6.4 
Uranium  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.3 2.0 2.1 1.9 2.2 
Metal ores 1.3 2.1 3.6 2.9 2.7 3.4 4.2 3.8 3.7 
Manufacturing, of which:  10.7 12.4 12.7 13.2 13.3 13.5 11.8 11.7 12.1 
Food & beverages products  5.6 6.4 6.2 6.9 7.4 7.3 6.6 6.9 7.0 
Basic non -ferrous metals  1.2 1.5 2.1 1.9 1.6 1.7 0.8 0.4 0.3 
Fabricated metals 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 
Diamond processing  0.4 0.6 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.6 
Electricity and water  2.3 1.9 3.6 3.6 4.0 3.7 3.9 3.5 3.4 
Construction  5.5 6.0 3.4 2.5 2.2 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.6 
Services  62.4 62.9 62.8 63.5 62.5 63.1 62.7 62.6 60.3 
Wholesale & retail trade, 
repairs  13.2 12.2 11.6 11.7 10.7 10.8 10.4 11.6 12.4 
Hotels & restaurants  1.9 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.2 1.5 1.5 1.6 
 
10 BoN, 2021 Annual Report . Viewed  at: 
https://www.bon.com.na/CMSTemplates/Bon/Files/bon.com.na/a1/a1dcdabe -2001-447e-85be-
aed9bbab0cda.pdf . 
11 BoN, 2022 Annual Re port. Viewed  at: https://www.bon.com.na/Publications/Annual -
Report.aspx#mainContentWrapper . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 222 - 
 
   
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Transport  2.9 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.0 3.2 3.3 
ICT services  2.0 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.8 1.7 1.6 
Financial & insurance 
services  6.3 7.6 7.5 7.8 8.3 7.5 7.5 7.8 7.4 
Public administration & 
defence  11.9 12.4 12.2 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.4 11.2 10.2 
Public finances (% of GDP)a 
Total revenue  .. .. 31.0 32.0 30.9 32.6 32.5 28.6 30.2 
SACU receipts  13.0 11.5 8.7 11.2 9.6 10.5 12.8 7.8 .. 
Budget balance   
.. -6.8 -4.8 -5.1 -5.0 -8.0 -8.7 -5.6 
Total debt (end of period)  25.6 40.2 41.6 42.6 48.3 55.9 62.4 66.3 71.0 
Foreign debt stock  8.8 18.5 15.6 14.6 17.8 20.4 18.9 16.2 18.0 
Domestic debt stock  16.7 21.7 26.0 27.9 30.5 35.5 43.6 50.1 53.0 
External sector (USD)  
NAD/USD (period average)  10.8 12.9 14.7 13.3 13.2 14.4 16.5 14.8 16.4 
Nominal effective exchange 
rate (percentage change;  
- depreciation)  -4.8 -2.8 -4.6 3.5 -0.6 -2.1 -4.7 2.8 -0.8 
Real effective exchange rate 
(percentage change;  
- depreciation)  -3.6 -2.6 -1.7 6.0 0.0 -1.6 -5.2 2.7 -1.6 
Balance of payments  
(USD  million)b          
Current account  -1,177.9  -1,546.5  -1,745.2  -573.3  -479.6  -224.5  294.9  -1,236.4  -1,584.1  
Goods  -2,937.4  -3,140.2  -2,397.4  -1,811.4  -1,545.0  -1,302.8  -955.7  -1,954.5  -2,256.3  
Exports (fob), of which:  3,828.2  3,194.4  3,184.3  3,745.6  4,199.5  3,880.1  3,140.6  3,582.9  4,202.2  
Diamonds  952.2  869.0  704.1  731.9  832.3  648.1  429.3  566.5  883.2  
Other mineral products  727.0  665.2  730.4  841.9  1,117.1  1,136.5  1,203.1  1,297.8  1,304.6  
Imports (fob), of which:  6,765.5  6,334.7  5,581.7  5,557.0  5,744.5  5,182.9  4,096.3  5,537.3  6,458.6  
Mineral fuels  549.7  1,097.4  813.1  668.1  903.8  882.2  564.3  838.5  1,560.8  
Services  117.5  218.9  -150.9  123.7  162.5  75.6 -65.0 -178.8  78.2 
Primary income  -71.9 -18.1 -261.4  -322.6  -505.3  -307.7  -43.9 -288.6  -358.7  
Secondary income  1,713.8  1,393.0  1,064.5  1,437.0  1,408.2  1,310.4  1,359.5  1,185.4  952.7  
of which SACU receipts  1,592.7  1,348.7  1,008.6  1,368.3  1,354.9  1,282.8  1,301.0  1,125.0  876.1  
Capital account  156.9  107.0  132.1  182.4  130.8  105.1  100.7  137.4  107.9  
Financial account  
(inflow ( -)/ outflow (+))  -992.1  -1,345.0  -1,282.3  -294.4  -275.4  -14.8 275.2  -1,189.4  -1,534.8  
Current account/GDPb -9.5 -13.6 -16.3 -4.4 -3.5 -1.8 2.8 -9.9 -12.6 
Trade/GDP (based on BoP)b 100.3  97.9 93.2 82.7 82.7 82.9 81.8 85.5 98.7 
FDI (USD  million)           
FDI flows into Namibia  441.6  888.0  355.6  279.9  208.6  -178.9  -146.5  697.3  943.6  
FDI flows abroad  22.0 102.2  -4.8 -65.6 98.5 9.1 51.7 17.5 8.7 
FDI stock in Namibia  3,287.0  5,221.4  6,230.7  7,241.4  6,906.2  6,827.5  7,046.6  7,216.3  7,848.4  
FDI stock abroad  531.6  477.1  931.0  1,370.4  953.5  1,098.9  1,066.2  962.5  1,293.4  
Total reserves (incl. gold, 
USD billion)  1.2 1.7 1.8 2.4 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.8 2.8 
In months of imports of goods 
and services  1.7 2.8 3.2 4.3 3.6 3.8 5.0 4.7 4.2 
.. Not available.  
a Fiscal year: April -March.  
b Preliminary for 2021 -22. 
Source:  Namibia Statistics Agency, Publications . Viewed  at: https://nsa.nsa.org.na/publications/ ; BoN, 
Statistical information. Viewed  at: https://www.bon.com.na /; World Bank, Databank. Viewed  at: 
https://databank.worldbank.org/home ; IMF data. Viewed  at: https://data.imf.org/ ; and information 
provided by the authorities.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 223 - 
 
  Chart  1.1 Product composition of merchandise trade, 2014 and 2022  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the authorities.  
WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 224 - 
 
  Chart  1.2 Domestic exports versus re -exports, 2014 -22 
(USD million)  
 
Note:  Figures in parentheses  represent share of total exports . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on the data provided by the authorities.  
WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 225 - 
 
  Chart  1.3 Direction of merchandise trade, 2014 and 2022  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the authorities.  
WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 226 - 
 
  Table  1.2 Trade in services, 2014 -22 
(USD million)  
  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020a 2021a 2022a 
Services t rade account  117.5  218.9  -150.9  123.7  162.5  75.6 -65.0 -178.8  79.7 
Services exports, of which:  999.3  891.8  537.8  739.8  765.2  703.0  676.4  674.4  932.1  
Manufacturing services  106.1  113.4  103.4  133.3  138.2  120.2  129.0  100.4  99.9 
Maintenance & repair services  52.6 33.1 16.8 26.1 29.9 34.4 33.6 37.6 41.9 
Transport services  110.7  83.6 79.7 115.7  115.6  108.9  148.1  154.1  233.4  
Passenger  99.7 75.2 70.5 107.5  107.9  102.1  13.3 6.0 17.4 
Others  11.0 8.4 9.2 8.2 7.7 6.8 134.8  148.1  215.9  
Travel services  452.0  479.3  225.6  341.0  382.8  349.7  114.5  128.9  280.8  
Business  7.2 22.0 4.0 6.3 8.3 23.1 17.7 23.8 34.0 
Personal  444.8  457.3  221.5  334.7  374.5  326.6  96.8 105.1  246.8  
Construction services  16.0 14.1 6.1 4.2 9.4 9.1 13.4 16.2 15.4 
Insurance and pension services  0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 4.5 0.0 4.4 0.8 
Financial services  24.4 24.4 24.9 27.2 29.3 23.9 17.0 6.6 6.2 
Charges for use of intellectual 
property  2.8 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.4 0.6 2.4 2.3 1.8 
Telecom, computer & 
information services  25.5 22.2 16.0 37.1 17.9 14.4 13.1 23.3 23.0 
Other business services  30.8 27.9 14.1 7.2 5.3 4.8 139.2  142.5  179.1  
Services imports, of which:  881.7  672.9  688.6  616.0  602.7  627.4  741.4  853.1  852.3  
Manufacturing services  0.0 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 
Maintenance & repair services  44.1 18.6 20.7 21.4 34.1 29.8 126.8  176.3  175.2  
Transport services  190.2  158.9  143.3  135.4  150.8  135.5  101.0  131.0  153.8  
Passenger  17.0 7.5 9.9 2.1 13.3 11.4 4.4 1.3 4.0 
Other  173.2  151.3  133.4  133.3  137.6  124.1  96.6 129.6  149.8  
Travel services  49.6 62.0 71.6 89.6 56.0 107.3  70.0 58.4 94.2 
Business  16.5 21.2 23.6 14.1 12.8 26.0 12.7 12.4 25.8 
Personal  33.1 40.9 48.0 75.5 43.2 81.2 57.2 46.0 68.4 
Construction services  100.9  34.7 79.9 65.1 66.5 18.6 1.6 0.6 13.1 
Insurance and pension services  22.9 20.3 15.4 16.7 26.2 30.8 11.3 14.9 18.6 
Financial services  1.2 6.4 1.7 8.7 7.0 3.8 3.8 0.9 1.3 
Charges for use of intellectual 
property  8.6 6.8 2.9 2.4 1.3 2.6 5.6 5.3 9.1 
Telecom, computer & 
information services  62.4 79.1 47.8 47.0 49.7 39.1 43.5 100.3  91.2 
Other business services  323.8  230.4  236.3  183.2  163.6  212.3  298.4  307.3  255.9  
a Preliminary.  
Source:  BoN, Balance of Payments . Viewed  at: https://www.bon.com.na/Economic -information/Statistical -
information/Balance -of-payments.aspx . 
  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 227 - 
 
  2  TRADE AND INVESTMEN T REGIMES  
2.1  General framework  
2.1.  Namibia gained independence in 1990. Executive powers in Namibia are vested in the President 
and the Cabinet. The President is the elected head of state, who is limited under the Constitution to 
serving two five -year terms.  
2.2.  Legislative powers reside with the bicameral Parliament. The National Assembly consists of 
96 elected members and 8  non-voting  members appointed by the President. The second chamber 
of Parliament, the National Council, is made up of representatives from the 13  regions, elected in 
separate elections. The next general elections are scheduled for  2024.  
2.3.  Legislation must pass through both houses of Parliament. The National Council can only advise 
on bills and does not enjoy veto power. Although bills can in theory be suggested by anyone, 
including MPs, the Law Reform and Development Commission12, NGOs, and individuals, in practice 
Ministers propose bills for consideration by Parliament. A draft bill is submitted to the Cabinet 
Committee on Legislation  (CCL), and then to the whole Cabinet for approval. If the Cabinet approves, 
the Ministry of Justice's legal drafters finalize the bill before sending it back to the sponsoring 
Ministry, the CCL, and the Attorney General for final approval. The time lag bet ween a Ministry 
initiating a law and a bill coming before the National Assembly can sometimes be several years. All 
draft laws have to go through public consultation, whereby they are made available to the public or 
distributed to certain stakeholders for comment. Bills become law after endorsement (signature) by 
the President and are published in the Government Gazette.13 
2.4.  The President has the power to negotiate and sign international agreements on behalf of 
Namibia, which become integral parts of national  legislation through ratification by Parliament. The 
WTO Agreements have been incorporated into Namibia's domestic legislation and thus can be 
invoked before national courts. The hierarchy of legislation is as follows: the Constitution, then 
statutes/acts of Parliament, and then common law and customary law. Article  144 of the Constitution 
provides that international law and agreements are binding upon Namibia, and wherever there are 
inconsistencies, the judiciary will decide which law applies.  
2.5.  The powers o f the judiciary lie with the courts of Namibia  - the Supreme Court, the High Court, 
and the Lower Courts. An Industrial Property Tribunal was established in 2022 (Section  3.3.7.4).  
2.6.  Namibia has been praised for its robust institutional and governance framew ork, considered 
among the best in Africa, according to the IMF.14 Nevertheless, corruption is perceived as a 
challenge.15 In the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, Namibia was 
ranked  59th in 2022, slightly worse than in 2014 (55th).16 The Anti -Corruption Commission  (ACC) 
acts as an independent agency with the mandate to investigate allegations of corrupt practices, 
educate the public, and take measures for the prevention of corruption in public and private bodies.17 
In 2021, the ACC is sued an updated National Anti -Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for  2021-
2518, with the objective, inter alia, to "prevent corruption and promote transparency in the extractive 
industries, fishing and other living marine resources" .19 The Harambee Prospe rity Plan  II (2021 -25) 
also calls for further anti -corruption measures, including joining the Extractive Industries 
Transparency Initiative  (EITI).20 Moreover, under the Whistleblower Protection Act,  2017, Namibia 
 
12 Ministry of Justice, Law Reform . Viewed  at: https://moj.gov.na/ca/law -reform . 
13 Electronic copies of the laws can be found on Namibia's  Legal Assistance Centre website: 
www.lac.org.na . 
14 IMF (2019), Namibia: Staff Report for the 2019 Article  IV Consultation , IMF Country Report 
No. 19/295. Viewed  at: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2019/09/12/Namibia -2019-Article -IV-
Consultation -Press -Release -and-Staff-Report -48675 . 
15 2023 Index of Economic Freedom: Namibia. Viewed  at: 
https://www.heritage.org/index/country/namibia . 
16 Anti-Corruption Commission. Viewed  at: https://acc.gov.na/ . 
17 Anti-Corruption Commission. Viewed  at: https://acc.gov.na/ . 
18 ACC, National Anti -Corruption Strategy and Action Plan, 2021 -2025. Viewed  at: 
https://acc.gov.na/documents/31390/2098982/E -+version+National+Anti -
Corruption+Strategy+and+Action+Plan+2021 -2025.pdf/baba2feb -6c64-4c9b-effc-bb03791db908 . 
19 ACC, National Anti -Corruption Strategy and Action Plan, 2021 -2025, p. 31. 
20 Harambee Prosperity Plan II, 2021 -2025. Viewed  at: http://hppii.gov.na/storage/2021/03/HPP2.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 228 - 
 
  established a Whistleblower Protection Off ice to investigate disclosures of improper conduct and 
complaints of retaliation against persons making the disclosures.21 
2.2  Trade policy formulation and objectives  
2.7.  Customs -related matters are addressed at the regional level within the framework of SACU 
(Main Report, Section  3.1). In areas not covered by the SACU  Agreement, the Ministry of 
Industrialisation and Trade  (MIT) is the focal point for trade policy and takes primary responsibility 
for the formulation and implementation of trade policies in the conte xt of multilateral, regional, and 
bilateral trade relations.22 
2.8.  Trade policy forms an integral, albeit not a prominent, part of Namibia's overall economic policy 
as guided by Vision  2030, the 5th National Development Plan  (NDP5), and the Harambee Prosperity  
Plan II (Section  1.2).23 According to the authorities, Namibia's key trade policy objectives are to 
secure preferential access into regional and global markets, expand and diversify exports, attract 
foreign investment, and strengthen participation in the trade in services negotia tions at the regional 
and multilateral levels.  
2.9.  Namibia has adopted a number of new policy documents since the last Review in 2014, notably 
the Namibia Food Safety Policy,  2014 (Section  3.3.3); the National Agricultural Policy,  2015 
(Section  4.1.2.1); the N ational Policy on MSMEs,  2016-21 (Section  4.4); the National Energy 
Policy,  2017 and the National Renewable Energy Policy,  2017 (Section  4.3.3); the Industrial 
Policy,  2017 (Section  4.4); and the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy,  2019 
(Section 3.3.7 .1). 
2.10.   Private sector interests are represented by a number of bodies including the Namibia Trade 
Forum of the MIT24, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (NCCI), and the Namibian 
Manufacturing Association.  
2.3  Trade agreements and arrangement s 
2.3.1   WTO  
2.11.   Namibia has been a member of the WTO since 1  January  1995. It is not a party to the 
Information Technology Agreement nor any of the plurilateral agreements concluded in the WTO. 
On 9 February  2018, Namibia accepted the Protocol concerning the Trade F acilitation Agreement 
(Section  2.3.1) and the Protocol amending the TRIPS  Agreement in April  2023. Namibia participates 
in WTO  negotiations as part of the following groups: ACP, African  Group, G -90, NAMA -11, and 
"W52"  sponsors.25 Namibia has participated i n one WTO  dispute as a third party.26 
2.12.   During the COVID -19 pandemic, Namibia did not take any new protectionist measures on 
trade in goods, services, or intellectual property rights.27 Namibia was a party to a proposal on 
COVID -19 as a member of the African  Group.28 Namibia also participated in the proposal to the 
TRIPS Council on the "Waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS  Agreement for the prevention, 
 
21 Whistleblower Protection Act  10 of 2017. Viewed  at: 
http://www.lac.org.na/laws/summaries/Whistleblower.pdf . 
22 MIT, About MIT . Viewed  at: https://mit.gov.na/objectives . 
23 Namibia's 5th National Development Plan (NDP5). Viewed  at: https://www.n pc.gov.na/wp -
content/uploads/2021/11/NDP5.pdf . 
24 Namibia Trade Forum. Viewed  at: https://ntf.org.na/ . 
25 WTO, Namibia and the WTO . Viewed  at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/namibia_e.htm . 
26 European  Communities  − Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Se al 
Products  (DS401) . 
27 WTO, COVID -19 and Trade – Namibia . Viewed  at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/covid_details_by_country_e.htm?country=NAM . 
28 Dated 25  June 2020. WTO, COVID -19 and Trade – Namibia . Viewed  at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/covid_details_by_country_e.htm?country=NAM . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 229 - 
 
  containment and treatment of  COVID -19".29 According to the authorities, Namibia is in the internal 
process leading to the ratification of the WTO  Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.  
2.13.   Since  2014, Namibia has submitted notifications to the WTO mainly under the 
SCM Agreement, the TFA, and the TBT  Agreement. Notifications were also made under Article  XXIV 
of the GATT  1994: Free Trade Areas, Enabling  Clause, the Agreement on Rules of Origin, and the 
Agreement on Customs Valuation.30 Namibia has outstanding notifications, including  in the area  of 
agriculture , import licensing procedures , quantitative restrictions , subsidies , and state trading 
enterprises . 
2.3.2   Regional trade agreements  
2.14.   In accordance with the SACU  Agreement, most trade agreements are entered into as a union, 
with a few exceptions whe re an individual member may enter into a bilateral agreement with a 
third party, with the consensus from the other members.  
2.15.   Namibia is a member of SACU and SADC, and their RTAs with third parties  (Main  Report , 
Section 2.4 ).31 Namibia is also party to the Tripartite  Agreement, which aims to create a free trade 
area between SADC, COMESA, and the EAC.  
2.16.   Namibia signed the African Continental Free Trade Area  (AfCFTA) agreement in 2018 and 
ratified it in 2019. In November  2022, Namib ia launched its National Strategy for Implementation 
of the Agreement establishing the AfCFTA.  
2.17.   Namibia maintains a bilateral FTA with Zimbabwe (another SADC member), which entered 
into force in 1992, as notified to the WTO in 2021.32 The agreement provides  for duty -free treatment, 
subject to preferential rules of origin (Section  3.1.3). 
2.3.3   Unilateral preferences  
2.18.   Namibia is eligible for unilateral preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity 
Act (AGOA), whereby the United  States offers preferential mark et access to Sub -Saharan African 
countries on certain products  (Main Report, Table 1.2) .33 Namibia's AGOA utilization rate increased 
to 90.9% in 2021 (up from zero in 2014-15).34 
2.4  Investment regime  
2.19.   Namibia's investment regime remains unchanged. The MIT is r esponsible for the 
administration of the Foreign Investment Act,  1990 (FIA) and its 1993  amendments, while a new 
investment regime is being developed.  
2.20.   Namibia had promulgated and gazetted the Namibia Investment Promotion Act,  2016, which 
was subsequently w ithdrawn due to legal concerns raised by the private sector. In November  2021, 
the Namibia Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act  (NIPA) was submitted to Parliament.35 A 
revised NIPA is to be tabled in 2023, according to the authorities. The adoption of  a National 
 
29 WTO, COVID -19 and Trade – Namibia . Viewed  at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/covid_details_by_country_e.htm?country=NAM . 
30 WTO, Docs Online. Viewed  at: 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S008.aspx?NotifyingCountryList=%22Namibia%22&Issuin
gDateFrom=01%2f01%2f2014&Language=ENGLISH&AttachmentSelection=BOTH&SearchPage=FE_S_S003&la
nguageUIChanged=true . 
31 SACU -Mercosur, SACU -EFTA, SACU -Mozambique -United  Kingdom EPA, and SADC -EU EPA. 
32 WTO document  WT/REG450/N/1, 29  March  2021.  
33 U.S. Office of Textiles and Apparel. Viewed  at: http://trade.gov/agoa/ . The WTO waiver for AGOA 
(WTO  document  WT/L/754, 29  May 2009) was extended until 30  September  2025.  
34 The AGOA utilization rate is the rate at which US imports of  AGOA -covered products claim the AGOA 
preferences. Namibia supplied US imports of AGOA or GSP -covered products in 2014 and 2015, but did not 
claim AGOA preferences. U.S. International Trade Commission (2023), African Growth and Opportunity 
Act (AGOA): Prog ram Usage, Trends, and Sectoral Highlights . Viewed  at: 
https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub5419.pdf . 
35 MIT (2021), Motivation Statement for the Tablin g of the Namibia Investment Promotion and 
Facilitation Act  (NIPA) . Viewed  at: https://mit.gov.na/speeches/ -/document_library/kviw/view_file/715224 . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 230 - 
 
  Equitable Economic Empowerment Act is also pending. Furthermore, Namibia is in the process of 
moving from its export processing zone  (EPZ) regime to a new special economic zone  (SEZ) regime 
with related incentives.  
2.21.   Most economic activities are open to foreign investors, subject to the following exceptions and 
restrictions:  
• Closed to foreign investment: taxi and shuttle services; hairdressing and beauty 
treatment;36 certain sectors under government/SOE monopoly, including electricity 
transmission  services and imports/exports of electricity; railway services; and water 
services;  
• While there are no general limits on foreign ownership, some activities require 
mandatory joint  ventures between the government/local enterprise and a foreign 
enterprise, f or instance in the fisheries and mining sectors; and  
• The government procurement regime provides for local sourcing rules (Section  3.3.6).  
2.22.   The Business and Intellectual Property Authority  (BIPA) provides business registration 
services for domestic and foreign enterprises under the Companies Act,  2004 and the Close 
Corporations Act,  1988.37 
2.23.   The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board  (NIPDB) was established in 2020 
in the Office of the President and became operational in April  2021.38 Its mand ate includes 
implementation of Namibia's investment policy and improvements to the business environment.39 
2.24.   At present, foreign investors may conduct business in the country without the NIPDB being 
involved. The pending NIPA will serve also to bring more clarity about the procedures for foreign 
investment in Namibia. In 2022, the NIPDB established a one -stop-centre to facilitate and connect 
investors to all the key business agencies in Namibia while ensuring investors' compliance w ith the 
relevant policies and other legal requirements. The centre is to comprise eight ministries and 
agencies, including the BIPA and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and 
Security  (MHAISS).40 The MHAISS grants renewable and non -renewable  temporary employment 
permits for "not  locally or readily  available skills" for a period of up to  12 months. Nevertheless, 
obtaining and renewing work permits appears to be challenging and is subject to the condition that 
the job could not be performed by Namibians.41 
2.25.   The FIA provides for equal treatment of foreign investors and the possibility of international 
arbitration in case of disputes between the investor and the Government. An Ombudsperson's office 
for investment is to be established in the Office of the President to resolve disputes between 
investors and state agencies.  
2.26.   Namibia has ratified bilateral investment treaties  (BITs) with Austria, Finland, France, 
Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland.42 Namibia has put a morat orium 
on the negotiation, signing, and ratification of current and future Reciprocal Promotion and Protection 
of Investment Agreements. Namibia has 11  double  taxation agreements (with Botswana, France, 
 
36 Government  Gazette  (2010), No.  4460, 15  April. Viewed  at: 
https://gazettes.africa/archive/na/2010/na -government -gazette -dated -2010-04-15-no-4460.pdf . 
37 The Companies Administr ative Regulations were amended in 2020 ( Government  Gazette  No. 7332 of 
October  2019). Foreign investors may generally choose to conduct their business in the form of a public or 
private company, branch of a foreign company, closed corporation, partnership,  joint venture, or sole trader.  
38 NIPDB. Viewed  at: https://nipdb.com/ . The NIPDB implements the investment policy of Namibia. The 
Namibia Investment Centre (NIC) and the Directorate of I ndustrial Development (both under the  MIT) are in 
charge of the formulation of the investment policy.  
39 NIPDB, NIPDB Strategic Plan . Viewed  at: https://nipdb.com/download/nipdb -strategic -plan/. 
40 NIPDB, One Stop Centre . Viewed  at: https://nipdb.com/invnamibia -osc/. When operating in Namibia, 
businesses must also register with t he relevant local authorities, the Workmen's Compensation Commission, 
and the Social Security Commission.  
41 U.S. Department of State, 2022 Investment Climate Statements: Namibia . Viewed  at: 
https://www.state.gov/reports/2022 -investment -climate -statements/namibia/ . 
42 Namibia has also signed BITs with Angola, Cuba, China, th e Russian  Federation, and Viet  Nam, which 
are not yet in force.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 231 - 
 
  Germany, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Romania, the Russ ian Federation, South  Africa, Sweden, and 
the United  Kingdom).  
  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 232 - 
 
  3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures directly affecting imports  
3.1.1   Customs procedures and requirements  
3.1.  All matters relating to customs duties and excise duties are harmonized at the SACU  level 
(Main  Report, Section  3). According to the authorities, Namibia's customs legislation is similar to 
that of the other SACU  members. Nevertheless, its customs procedures (mainly operational policies 
and levies) are to a large extent set at the na tional level.  
3.2.  During the period under review, Namibia established the Namibia Revenue Agency  (NamRA) 
as a semi -autonomous agency under the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises  (MFPE).43 NamRA 
became operational on 6  April 2021.44 It is responsible fo r, inter alia, enforcing customs and excise 
legislation and the collection of revenues; facilitating the smooth movement and clearance of trade; 
the detection of illicit activities, including the cross -border movement of undeclared or 
under -declared goods and contraband such as controlled substances and drugs; and the preparation 
of trade statistics.  
3.3.  In general, there are no special registration requirements for importers. The Companies 
Act, 2004 covers both domestic and "external" companies, i.e.  those inc orporated outside Namibia 
but trading through a local branch. Company registration is administered by the Business and 
Intellectual Property Authority  (BIPA) (Section  2.4). 
3.4.  Customs procedures and requirements for imports of goods are governed by Sections  14 
and 41 of the Customs and Excise Act,  1998, as amended.45 Namibia completed the migration to 
ASYCUDA World in 2017, which is used as customs operating system in all 29  customs and excise 
sites in the country . The system allows for direct trader input  (DTI) by cargo carriers and freight 
forwarders and enables customs declarations to be processed electronically using the single 
administrative document for all imported goods (SAD  500/501). The use of clearing agents for 
import purposes, while not mandatory, is encouraged. The system allows for risk profiling and 
selectivity rules. Neither preshipment nor destination inspection of imports is required in Namibia.  
3.5.  A bond guarantee system operates on goods in transit through Namibia. Under the system, 
importers l odge a security to cover all charges, including customs duties, VAT, and levies. The bond 
may be redeemed once the goods have left Namibia. The security is currently being reviewed.  
3.6.  Namibia accepted the WTO  Agreement on Trade Facilitation in 2018. To date,  Namibia has 
implemented  55.5% of its commitments, which are expected to be fully implemented by 
December  2024.46 The implementation status of selected trade facilitation measures is as follows:  
• Enquiry point – A dedicated customer unit (Call Center Unit) became operational in 
August  2022.  
• Website – NamRA's website is not yet operational in real time.  
• Release and clearance – Pre-clearance is available through ASYCUDA World.  
• Electronic payment – Electronic payments are accepted.  
• Risk assessment – NamRA  has adopted a risk -based management approach that is aligned 
with the WCO Risk Management Compendium. As part of the risk assessment procedure 
on ASYCUDA World, NamRA has targeted high -risk consignments based on  criteria such 
 
43 Namibia Revenue Agency Act  12 of 2017. Viewed  at: 
https://www.NamRA.org.na/ documents/cms/uploaded/namibia -revenue -agency -act-12-of-2017-
207de6e782.pdf . The Namibia Revenue Agency Act  12 of 2017 entered into force on 12  December  2017. 
44 NamRA assumed the functions of the former Directorate of Cu stoms and Excise and the Department 
of Inland Revenue of the MFPE.  
45 NamRA, Importation of Goods . Viewed  at: https://www.NamRA.org.na/customs -
excise/page/importation -of-goods . 
46 WTO, TFA database. Viewed  at: https://tfadatabase.org/members/namibia . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 233 - 
 
  as prohibition, restriction, diversion, smuggling, import without a permit, intellectual 
property rights violations, valuation and misclassification, compliance, and origin , among 
others . 
• Appeal procedures – Appeal procedures, as provided for by the Customs and Excise Act, 
have remain ed unchanged since 2014. 
• Authorized Economic Operator  (AEO) – A preferred trader (PT) programme was launched 
in 2012 as a precursor to an AEO programme. This follows a SACU  Agreement in 2008 to 
implement the AEO programme in two steps: first, a PT programme as a SACU 
AEO-Compliance programme to assess the compliance of importers and exporters, so as 
to award certain benefits; and second, implementation of a full -fledged AEO programme 
that includes an assessment of the supply chain security and safet y standards developed 
by the WCO, referred to as AEO security. Currently, one manufacturer is registered under 
the PT programme.  
• Single window – A Single Window has not yet been established by the Ministry of 
Industrialisation and Trade  (MIT), requiring te chnical assistance, according to the 
authorities. Namibia E -Trade Services Ltd was established to operate the Single Window.  
• One-stop border post  (OSBP) – The One Stop Border Post Control Act,  2017 was passed 
by Parliament in 2017 and an OSBP  Agreement bet ween Namibia and Botswana was 
signed on 9  September  2022. Once operational, all goods and cargo will be cleared on the 
Namibian side, while passenger clearance will be done on the Botswana side of the border.  
3.1.2   Customs valuation  
3.7.  An advance ruling system on c ustoms classification, valuation, and origin became operational 
in July  2022. Requests for advance rulings by NamRA can be made by the importer, exporter, or 
any other interested person. Advance rulings are to be made within 30 days from the receipt of a 
request and remain binding for one year.47 
3.8.  According to NamRA, "one of the main sources of disputes between Customs officials and 
traders is related to the treatment attributed to the goods linked to determining of the value, 
classification of goods and det ermination of rules of origin. Inaccurate valuation and classification 
decisions may constitute a non -tariff barrier to trade and could circumvent the official tariff schedule. 
They also increase the risk of corruption if traders aim to obtain a better tre atment of their goods 
by way of bribery".48 
3.9.  NamRA and the South  African Revenue Services  (SARS) have introduced the unique 
consignment reference  (UCR) concept, which ensures that goods and values declared in the 
exporting country reflect the same in the im porting country. The UCR aims to counter smuggling 
and undervaluation and ensure correct statistical data, which is key for SACU revenue sharing.  
3.1.3   Rules of origin  
3.10.   Namibia applies the preferential rules of origin of SACU and SADC (Main  Report, Section  3.2). 
3.11.   Namibia applies preferential rules of origin under its bilateral FTA with Zimbabwe.49 The 
agreement with Zimbabwe provides for reciprocal duty -free market access for goods wholly obtained 
in the other party. Manufactured goods qualify for duty -free treatme nt if they have at least 25% 
local content, and the last process of manufacture (which must take place in one of the parties) is 
substantial and sufficient to change the nature of the product and give it a new, essential, and 
distinct characteristic and th e final process presents a completely new product or at least an 
 
47 NamRA, Advance Rulings . Viewed  at: https://www.NamRA.org.na/customs -excise/page/advance -
rulings . 
48 NamRA ( 2022), Communique Wagon Newsletter , Vol. 7, p. 14. Viewed  at: 
https://www.NamRA.org.na/announcements/article/NamRA -communique -wagon -vol7/. 
49 WTO document  G/RO/N/223, 29  April 2021.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 234 - 
 
  important stage in the manufacturing process. In contrast, the product -specific rules of origin of the 
SADC Trade Protocol require a change of tariff heading or regional content of 35% to 40% . 
3.12.   Namibia has been implementing the SADC E -Certificate of Origin  (e-CoO) since 
December  2022. The  e-CoO is an electronically processed certificate of origin by a competent or 
issuing authority of the exporting country attesting that goods declared by an ex porter conform to 
the required rules of origin.  
3.1.4   Tariffs  
3.1.4.1   Bindings  
3.13.   Namibia's binding commitments are identical to those of  Eswatini and South  Africa 
(Main  Report, Section  3.3.2). 
3.1.4.2   Applied MFN tariffs  
3.14.   Namibia applies the SACU Common External Tariff (Main  Repor t, Section  3.3.1). As a 
consequence, it uses the Jacobsens Harmonized Customs Tariff, to ensure the effective application 
of the respective duty rates and rebates across all SACU  members, as well as preferential tariffs 
under SACU's RTAs, thus ensuring uni form application of the CET.  
3.1.4.3   Tariff preferences  
3.15.   Namibia applies the following tariff preferences:  
• Tariff preferences in accordance with SACU and SADC RTAs (Main  Report, Section  3.3.3);  
• Preferential (reduced or duty -free) treatment of imports from other SADC members; and  
• Preferential (reduced or duty -free) treatment of imports under its bilateral FTA with 
Zimbabwe.  
3.1.4.4   Infant industry protection  
3.16.   Article  26 of the SACU  Agreement permits Namibia, as well as Botswana, Eswatini, and 
Lesotho, to apply infant  industry protection to their emerging industries in the form of additional 
MFN customs duties for a maximum of eight  years.50 According to the authorities, all cases of infant 
industry protection were phased out (the last for cement in 2020) and no new ap plications for 
protection have been granted since 2014. 
3.1.4.5   SACU rebates  
3.17.   Article  20 of the SACU  Agreement provides for harmonized tariff rebates. The different 
rebates available to the SACU  members are covered under Schedule  3 (industrial rebates) and 
Schedule  4 (general rebates) of the customs tariff (Main  Report, Section  3.3.6).  
3.1.4.6   Tariff quotas  
3.18.   Namibia has no WTO tariff quota commitments.  
3.19.   SACU and SADC have made tariff quota commitments within the framework of their respective 
RTAs (Main Report, Section 3.3.3) . In some instances, country -specific allocations apply to Namibia. 
NamRA enforces the tariff quota allocations through verification of the rebate and issuance of a 
rebate ruling to quota holders upon importation of products, with a permit issued by the Min istry of 
Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform  (MAWLR).  
 
50 "Infant industry" means an industry that has been established for not more than eight years in the 
SACU  member concerned.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 235 - 
 
  3.20.   The SACU rebate facility provides for limited quantities of duty -free imports of agricultural 
products (i.e. tariff quotas) into the Namibian market (Section  4.1.3.1).  
3.1.5   Other charges affecting imports  
3.21.   An Integrated Tax Administration System  (ITAS) was launched by NamRA in 2019. ITAS is 
operated by the Direct Tax Department and provides for online tax return submissions.  
3.1.5.1   Value  added tax  
3.22.   Value  added tax  (VAT) rates are not harmonized within SACU. Namibia le vies VAT at a 
standard rate of 15% on imported and locally produced goods and services. VAT is collected on 
imports at the f.o.b. price plus an "uplift" of 10%. VAT registration is mandatory for businesses with 
an annual taxable turnover above NAD  500,000.  Schedules  III and IV to the Value -Added Tax 
Act, 2000 contain a list of zero -rated supplies and exempt supplies, respectively.51 
3.1.5.2   Excise duties  
3.23.   Excise duties are harmonized within SACU in accordance with Article  21 of the 2002 
SACU  Agreement (Main  Report, Section  3.3.4).52 According to the Agreement, the common excise 
duties are agreed annually by SACU ministers responsible for finance. In Namibia, changes to the 
common excise duty rates are published as amendments to the Customs and Excise Act,  1998.53 
3.1.5.3   Environmental levies  
3.24.   In 2016, Namibia introduced environmental levies on a range of products, whether imported 
or produced domestically. In 2019, additional products were subject to the environmental levies 
through Government Notice No.  226 (Amendment to Schedule No.  1 of Customs and Excise Act, 
1998):54 
• "Environmental levy on CO 2 emissions"  - Specific levies apply on new and used motor 
vehicles at NAD  40-NAD 45 per gramme of CO 2 emissions exceeding 120 -140 g/km;  
• "Specific environmental duties"  - Specific levies apply on plastic carrier bags; disposable 
batteries, car and truck batteries; electric filament lamps; new, used, or re -treaded 
pneumatic tyres; and second -hand vehicles;  
• "Fuel levies " - Specific levies apply to petr oleum products, including bio -diesel 
(Section  4.3.2).  
3.25.   According to the authorities, the environmental levies were introduced to steer the country 
towards a green economy and sustainable exploitation of its natural resources in line with 
Namibia's  5th National Development Plan. Revenue generated through environmental levies are 
designated for the Environmental Investment Fund to support environmental projects such as tyre 
recycling and waste management.  
3.1.5.4   Other import levies  
3.26.   The Meat Board of Namibia  (MBN) col lects statutory levies, including the "general import levy" 
(since 2010) at 0.8% of the import value of meat and meat products, live cattle, sheep, goats, and 
 
51 Value -Added Tax Act  10 of 2000. Viewed  at: http://www.lac.org.na/laws/annoSTAT/Value -
Added%20Tax%20Act%2010%20of%202000.pdf . 
52 SACU  Agreement, 2002. Viewed  at: https://sacu.int/docs/agreements/2017/SACU -Agreement.pdf . 
53 Customs and Excise Act,  1998, Schedule  1, Part  2A. Viewed  at: 
https://media.namiblii.org/files/government_gazette/files/na -government -gazette -dated -2022-10-06-no-
7922.pdf . 
54 Government Gazette  (2019), No.  6967, 2  August. Viewed  at: 
https://www.lac.org.na/laws/2019/6967.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 236 - 
 
  pigs. Part of the receipts are used to fund the Farm Assured Namibia Meat Scheme (15%)55 and for 
the provision of emergency veterinary services (5%).  
3.27.   The Namibian Agronomic Board  (NAB) collects import levies on "controlled" agronomic 
products (Sections  4.1.3.3 and  4.1.3. 4). 
3.1.6   Anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures  
3.28.   Contingency trade remedie s are governed by SACU (Main  Report, Section  3.3.7).  
3.1.7   Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
3.1.7.1   Import licensing  
3.29.   Namibia is overdue with regard to an up -to-date WTO notification on import licensing  
procedures ; its last notification dates from 2010.56 
3.30.   All imports are subject to licensing, but most licences are automatically granted, according to 
the authorities. Under the Import and Export Control Act,  1994, the MIT has the responsibility for 
the import and transit procedures of products that require p ermits (controlled products) and do not 
fall under the jurisdiction of other government agencies. Import permits are issued (automatically) 
by the MIT for second -hand motor vehicles (less than 12  years  old57); fish and fish products; and 
used or re -treaded  tyres.  
3.31.   The MBN administers import permit/licensing requirements for cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs 
under the Meat Industry Act,  1981 in order "to monitor the imports and exports".58 The permits are 
issued automatically (free of charge) and are valid for u p to one month, which may be extended.  
3.32.   Namibia has non -automatic import licensing procedures in place on the following products, 
among others: medicines; chemicals; agricultural and forestry products  (granted by MAWLR and 
NAB); controlled wildlife products  under CITES (Ministry of Environment and Tourism  (MEFT))59; 
controlled petroleum products (Ministry of Mines and Energy  (MME)); diamonds, gold, and other 
minerals  (MME); and firearms and explosives.  
3.33.   For imports of general medicines, a licence is required from the Namibian Medicines 
Regulatory Council.60 Licences are only granted to registered wholesalers and distributors. Once a 
licence is issued, the import of general medicines can be undertaken without an import permit. 
However, special import permits ar e required for the import of narcotics and psychotropic 
substances. A fee of NAD  1,000 is payable.  
3.1.7.2   Import prohibitions and restrictions  
3.34.   NamRA enforces legislation administered by different Offices, Ministries, and Agencies  (OMAs) 
with regard to imports and exports of prohibited and restricted goods. Namibia's list of prohibited 
and restricted goods covers medicines, narcotics, firearms, and radiation -emitting products 
(Table  A3.1).  
3.35.   Furthermore, under the Import and Export Control Act,  1994, impor ts are prohibited (from 
outside of the Customs  Union) of left -hand-drive motor vehicles; second -hand and motor vehicles 
older than 12  years; and second -hand clothing.  
 
55 The scheme is a piece of legislation pertaining to livestock traceability, growth hormone usage, 
antibiotic usage, and feed composition together with good agricultural practice guidelines and animal welfare 
standards.  
56 WTO documents  G/LIC/N/3/NAM/5, 11  May 2010; and G/LIC/N/3/NAM/6, 30  August  2010.  
57 Applicable to the vehicles of category HS  87.03 and 87.04. Walvis  Bay has been designated as port of 
entry for second -hand vehicles from outside SACU.  
58 WTO document  G/LIC/N/3/NAM/5, 11  May 2010.  
59 Government  Gazette  (2008), No.  4190, 30  December. Viewed  at: 
https://cites.org/sites/default/files/projects/NLP/NamibiaControlledWildlifeProductsa ndTradeAct9.2008.pdf . 
60 Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council. Viewed  at: https://nmrc.gov.na/ca/ . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 237 - 
 
  3.36.   Namibia applies import quotas (quantitative restrictions (QRs)) on imports of poultry mea t 
and pork (Section  4.1.3.2).  
3.37.   Under the Agronomic Industry Act,  1992, the NAB administers schemes for controlled 
agronomic products that provide for local purchase requirements as a condition for allowing imports 
and include:  
• Namibian Horticulture Market Share Promotion Scheme for horticultural products 
(Section  4.1.3.3);  and 
• Grain Marketing Mechanism for white maize, wheat, and pearl millets (Section  4.1.3. 4). 
3.1.8   Other measures  
3.38.   The government procurement regime of Namibia includes local content requirements 
(Section  3.3.6).  
3.2  Measures directly affecting exports  
3.2.1   Customs procedures and requirements  
3.39.   NamRA is implementing a preferred trader project (Section  3.1.1). 
3.2.2   Taxes, charges, and levies  
3.40.   Namibia adopted the Export Levy Act,  2016 to, inter alia, receive a greate r share from its 
resource base and meet revenue needs; and encourage further processing and beneficiation and 
thereby support industrial development (Growth at Home strategy). The law is implemented by 
the MFPE and the taxes are collected by NamRA. Export levies apply to forestry products, fish, 
minerals, natural gas, crude oil, and hides and skins. The revised export levy rates were published 
in Government Notice No.  397 of 20  December  2019.61 As a result of Namibia's commitments under 
the EPA with the Eur opean  Union, preferential rates apply to exports to the European  Union of some 
forestry products, dimension stones, and marble, among others. The RTA also provides that no new 
export taxes be introduced after the entry into force of the agreement.  
3.41.   The MBN charges levies on exports of livestock (Section  4.1.4).  
3.2.3   Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
3.42.   Exports, except to SACU  members, of nearly all products are subject to automatic licensing. 
A non -automatic permit is required for, inter alia, medicin es; plants and plant products; live animals 
and genetic materials; ostrich -breeding materials; meat and game products; controlled wildlife 
products under CITES; minerals, including diamonds and gold; coins and bank notes; firearms and 
explosives; certain w orks of art and archaeological findings; and oysters.  
3.43.   Exports of live animals (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs) and meat and meat products require 
a permit from the MBN. Exports of l ive sheep were subject to restrictions , until the measure was 
suspended in 2019 (Section  4.1.4).  
3.44.   Exporters of controlled agronomic crops (white maize, wheat, pearl millets, and horticultural 
products) are required to register with the NAB.  
3.45.   Namibia applies the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme through the Namibia Diamond 
Trading Company  (NDTC) to certify that Namibia's rough diamonds are from areas free of conflict. 
Trade measures necessary to implement the Kimberley Process are covered by a WTO waiver.62 
 
61 NamibLII, Export Levy Act,  2016. Viewed  at: https://namiblii.org/akn/na/act/2016/2/eng%402020 -
11-30. 
62 WTO document  WT/L/876, 14  December  2012.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 238 - 
 
  3.2.4   Export support and promotion  
3.2.4.1   Export support  
3.46.   According to the authorities , Namibia does not provide any export subsidies, including through 
tax concessions on exports. The SACU  Agreement  provides for duty drawbacks at the SACU  level, 
but these are not implemented by Namibia.  
3.47.   The "special tax incentives for exporters of manufactured products" were repealed in 2020 
(Section  3.3.1): the incentives had consisted of an 80% tax reduction to manufacturers on the 
taxable income derived from exports of manufactured goods (other than me at or fish).  
3.2.4.2   Export processing zones  
3.48.   The export processing zone  (EPZ) regime is currently under review and Namibia plans to 
move from an EPZ regime to a special economic zone  (SEZ) regime. Meanwhile, there is a 
moratorium on new EPZ applications.  
3.49.   The EPZ i ncentives were repealed in 2020 (see also Section  3.3.1). An amendment to the 
Income Tax,  1981 repealed Sections  5, 6, and  7 of the EPZ  Act, 1995, whereby the incentives for 
existing EPZ enterprises are to be phased  out over five  years by 31  December  2025.  In 2021, 
six companies were granted EPZ status without tax incentives. EPZ incentives included exemption 
for 10  years from customs duties and other import charges (VAT, excise duties), corporate tax, and 
stamp and transfer duties on goods and services req uired for EPZ activities; 75% refund on training 
expenditures of Namibians; and free repatriation of capital and profits.  
3.50.   Changes to Namibia's "industrial agglomeration strategy" have been in the works since the 
unfavourable cost -benefit review of the EPZ regime in 2012. The policy shift was also motivated by 
criticism of the incentives regime and to avoid being added to the black list by the European  Union 
as a tax heaven.63 A public consultation on the new SEZ policy was circulated by the MIT in 
September  2021.64 The EPZ  Act will be  repealed and the EPZ regime gradually integrated into a new 
SEZ regime.  
3.51.   Namibia had introduced the Export Processing Zones Act,  1995 as part of the strategy to 
become an internationally competitive investment location. The Gove rnment had hoped that EPZs 
would help to attract foreign investment and to stimulate export -oriented manufacturing or assembly 
activities with minimum formalities. It has become evident that the Namibian EPZs have not met 
expectations in terms of investmen t, export promotion, and job creation. Factors such as the 
increase in fuel prices and the resultant high costs of transport and logistics, lack of skilled manpower 
and comparatively high wages, and the small domestic market contributed to cancel out the 
corporate tax incentives that were offered through the EPZ regime. A significant number of the 
approved investments never took off, while some EPZ companies closed down or de -registered to 
operate as non -EPZs. Of the more than 150  EPZ companies that have be en certified since inception, 
29 were still operating at end -2021. Virtually all remaining EPZ enterprises are engaged in diamond 
cutting and processing (Table  3.1). Extractive operations (mining) and fish and meat processing are 
not eligible for EPZ  status. 
3.52.   Since  2018, the Namibia Industrial Development Agency  (NIDA) has been responsible for the 
administration and servicing of EPZs. The EPZ -related functions of the Namibia Development 
Corporation and the (now -defunct) Offshore Development Company Ltd were transferred to NIDA.  
3.53.   Merchandise moved in and out of the EPZs into the SACU customs territory must be declared 
using the SAD  500/501  form. NamRA monitors the movements of inputs and outputs from 
EPZ enterprises to ensure export obligations are met.65 
 
63 In 2018, Namibia was removed from the EU  list of non -cooperative tax jurisdictions.  
64 MIT (2021), National Policy on Sustainable Special Economic Zones, 2021 -2026. Viewed  at: 
https://mit.gov.na/acts/ -/document_library/arcd/view_f ile/672272 . 
65 NamRA, Export Processing Zones . Viewed  at: https://www.NamRA.org.na/customs -
excise/page/export -processing -zones . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 239 - 
 
  Table  3.1 Summary of EPZ enterprises, 2021  
Sector  Enterprises 
(No.)  Investment  
(NAD  million)  Employment  Imports  
(NAD  billion)  Exports  
(NAD  billion)  Production 
(NAD  billion)  
General manufacturing  3 42 57 70 39 10 
Mineral processing  25 10,846  1,454  4,948  4,760  9,107  
Assembly operations  1 24 .. .. .. .. 
Total 29 10,909  1,511  5,018  4,799  9,117  
.. Not available.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
3.2.4.3   Export promotion  
3.54.   According to the authorities, Namibia does not provide any export promotion support.66 
3.55.   The Namibia Trade Forum (Section  2.2) has been working towards promoting women in trade 
in line with the AfCFTA protocol on Women and Youth in Trade  (Main Report, Section 2) . Most of the  
engagement is to support businesswomen with export -ready products or those who have the 
potential to export, while their products require improvements to meet certain standards 
(e.g. packaging, labelling, or barcoding).  
3.2.5   Export finance, insurance, and guar antees  
3.56.   According to the authorities, Namibia does not provide any government export financing, 
insurance, or guarantees.  
3.3  Measures affecting production and trade  
3.3.1   Incentives  
3.57.   Namibia's most recent subsidies notification to the WTO (from  2020) indicates that n o 
subsidies were provided.67 
3.58.   According to the authorities, Namibia's tax -based incentives regime is currently being 
suspended, while a technical committee with representatives from various ministries and agencies 
is engaged in developing a new incentives f ramework. This review is linked to the planned move 
from an EPZ to an SEZ regime (Section  3.2.4.2).  
3.59.   The Income Tax Amendment Act,  2020 repealed the following incentive schemes and no new 
incentives have been granted since 1  January  2021, while incentives g ranted prior to the repeal will 
expire by 31  December  2025:  
• EPZ enterprises (Section  3.2.4.2);68 
• Special tax incentives for exporters of manufactured products (Section  3.2.4.1);  
• Registered manufacturers: incentives (as per Section  5 A of the Income Tax Act , 1981) 
included a reduced corporate tax rate of 18% for 10  years; VAT exemption for the 
purchase of machinery and equipment; accelerated capital allowances for factory 
buildings; training tax allowance; land transport tax allowance (25% of cost) for mater ials 
used in manufacturing; export marketing tax allowance (25%); and cash grants (50% of 
cost) for approved export promotion activities.  
 
66 The Export Marketing Assistance Programme (EMAP) administered by the MIT (Division of Trade 
Promotion) has been dormant due to budget constraints.  
67 WTO document  G/SCM/N/220/NAM, 20  August  2020.  
68 Government Gazette  (2020), No.  7431, 31  December. Viewed  at: 
https://media.namiblii. org/files/government_gazette/files/na -government -gazette -dated -2020-12-31-no-
7431.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 240 - 
 
  3.60.   The Enhancing Entrepreneurship Development Programme was launched in 2019 under the 
EMPRETEC framework of UNCTAD.69 The objective of the project (EMPRETEC Namibia Programme) 
is to enhance the growth potential of micro, small and medium enterprises  (MSMEs) through 
entrepreneurial change, skills development, and provision of business development advisory 
service s. Expenditures amounted to NAD 5 million in 2019. 
3.3.2   Standards and other technical requirements  
3.61.   The Namibian Standards Institution  (NSI) is the national standards body responsible for 
developing standards and conformity assessment procedures. The NSI also ha s the mandate to 
enforce two technical regulations concerning alcohol -based hand sanitizers, and cement including 
the approval of cement imported into Namibia (see below).  
3.62.   The NSI serves as national WTO TBT enquiry and notification point.70 However, there is a lack 
of coordination between government ministries/departments and institutions to ensure compliance 
with the TBT  Agreement and discuss Namibia's TBT matters. During the review period, Namibia 
submitted 13  TBT notifications (concerning cement71; alcohol -based hand sanitizers72; controlled 
horticultural products73; squash, melons, and sweetcorn74) and 4 mutual recognition agreements. 
No specific trade concerns were raised in the TBT Committee regarding Namibia's measures.  
3.63.   The NSI is a mem ber of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the African 
Organisation for Standardisation  (ARSO), and the Affiliate Country Programme of the International 
Electrotechnical Commission  (IEC); it is also a full participating member of the African 
Electrotechnical Commission  (AFSEC). The NSI also participates in SADC's TBT cooperation 
arrangements to implement the TBT  Annex to the SADC Protocol on Trade, including SADCSTAN 
(standards), SADC Accreditation System  (SADCAS) (accreditation), and SADCTRLC (technical 
regulation liaison committee) and conformity assessment procedures.  
3.64.   Namibia has adopted a Revised National Quality Policy  (2020 -25).75 The policy focuses on 
reforming the institutional framework for developing and implementing technical  regulations and 
quality assurance and recommends the establishment of a Technical Regulatory Coordination 
Office  (TRCO), either in the National Planning Commission, Attorney General's Office, or Office of 
the Prime Minister. The TRCO is to be composed of the various regulatory agencies with the task to 
ensure a more coherent and consistent approach in the formulation of technical regulations in 
compliance with WTO obligations. Namibia is also in the process of establishing a National 
TBT Committee.  
3.65.   The sta ted policy of standards development in Namibia is to adopt standards from 
international and foreign standards bodies. As of November  2022, Namibia had 227  standards in 
place, of which 32  were Namibian "home  grown" standards, 55  regional standards, and 
140 international standards. Namibian standards are revised every five  years with a view of ensuring 
relevance and to align them with sector's needs and international needs. These voluntary standards 
may be referenced in legislation making them mandatory to ac hieve environmental, SPS, and other 
legitimate policy objectives. Adopted standards are gazetted and published by the NSI as a Namibian 
Standard. A catalogue of Namibian Standards, updated at regular intervals, is available on the 
NSI website.76 
3.66.   The Contin ental Standardization Body under ARSO has the mandate of harmonizing African 
regional standards. To date, Namibia has not adopted ARSO standards. Namibia participates in 
regional standardization activities on metrology, fisheries and aquaculture, automotiv e, milk and 
 
69 MIT, EMPRETEC Namibia Programme . Viewed  at: https://mit.gov.na/empretec -namibia -programme . 
70 WTO document  G/TBT/2/Add.  108, 16  March  2012.  
71 WTO documents G/TBT/N/NAM/1, 30  May 2018; and G/TBT/N/NAM/1/Add.1, 26  September  2019.  
72 WTO document G/TBT/N/NAM/2, 23  April 2020.   
73 WTO documents G/T BT/N/NAM/3 -6, 25 August  2022. The SPS  Committee was also notified of the 
horticulture regulations.  
74 WTO documents G/TBT/N/NAM/7 -9, 22 May 2023.  
75 NSI, Revised National Quality Policy . Viewed  at: https://www.nsi.com.na/download/revised -national -
quality -policy/ . It replaced the Quality Policy of  1999.  
76 NSI (2022), Namibia Standards Pricing Register . Viewed  at: https: //www.nsi.com.na/wp -
content/uploads/2022/03/NSI -Namibia -Standards -Pricing -Register -2022.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 241 - 
 
  milk products, horticulture, environmental protection, live animals, building and construction 
materials, organic and inorganic chemicals, and plastics and rubber plastics, among others.  
3.67.   The NSI Certification Body provides independent third -party conformity assessment services. 
It was successfully assessed in 2019 by SADCAS for maintaining its accreditation to provide 
certification services according to ISO standards. SADCAS is Namibia's de facto accreditation body. 
The NSI Certification Body provides product certification, and system and person certification 
according to the requirements of ISO/IEC  17065, ISO/IEC  17021, and ISO/IEC  17024. Goods and 
services that meet the requirements of the appli cable Namibian and/or international standards are 
issued with a Certificate of Conformity and awarded with the licence to use the NSI Mark of 
Conformity. The NSI has product certification schemes for cement and sanitizers.  
3.68.   The NSI is also the designated na tional fishery inspection and certification authority. The 
Inspection Centre is accredited to ISO/IEC  17020. Its responsibilities include the inspection of chilled 
and frozen fish and fishery products, canned fish and canned meat, and the inspection of fac tories 
and vessels for compliance with compulsory specifications, as well as export market regulatory 
requirements. Namibia has 83  EU-approved facilities, including factory and freezer vessels, 
processing plants, and cold stores. Food safety tests are cond ucted at the NSI Food Laboratory 
(accredited to ISO/IEC  17025) for the presence of biotoxins, heavy metals, and microbiological 
contaminants. Both the NSI Inspection Centre and the testing laboratory facilities are accredited by 
SADCAS.  
3.69.   MRAs were concluded  between the NSI and the National Fish Inspection Institute of 
Mozambique  (INIP) in 201277; between the NSI and the Botswana Bureau of Standards  (BOBS) 
in 201878; and, in 2021, between the NSI and the South  African Bureau of Standards  (SABS)79, and 
the NSI  and the National Regulatory for Compulsory Specification of South  Africa  (NRCS).80 
3.3.3   Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements  
3.70.   Since the last Review, Namibia has established a GMO  regime, while its SPS  regime remains 
otherwise substantially unchanged. Some of  the SPS laws are obsolete, but there are ongoing efforts 
to review them. Namibia has reactivated its National SPS and Food Safety Committee. The MAWLR 
is the National Notification Authority and National Enquiry Point for SPS measures. Namibia has 
submitte d one  SPS notification, in 2022, regarding trade in controlled agronomic products.81 
No specific trade concern has been raised in the SPS  Committee regarding Namibia's SPS measures.  
3.71.   In 2014, the Government adopted the Namibia Food Safety Policy to protect consumer health 
while facilitating trade in food.82 The policy seeks to ensure that requirements and controls are 
developed and respected regarding food production safety, food hygiene, animal health and welfare, 
plant health, and preventing the risk of co ntamination from substances. It promotes the principles 
of risk assessment and prevention, and a "farm to fork" approach. A Namibia Food Safety Council is 
to be established with the task of coordinating emergency food safety measures and developing 
draft r egulations. There are ongoing stakeholder consultations on a Food Safety and Standards Bill. 
A key objective of the Food Safety Policy is to address the overlapping mandates on food safety, 
which is the responsibility of five ministries:  
• The Ministry of He alth and Social Services is responsible for public health. This includes 
regulations and standards on food offered to consumers, including food service or business 
premises, such as retail shops, restaurants, or street food.  
• The MAWLR is responsible for th e safe production of food of animal and plant origin, 
including their primary processed forms. This includes all regulations and standards on 
fresh produce, grain, insects, eggs, dairy, poultry, and meat.  
 
77 WTO document  G/TBT/10.7/N/166, 18  January  2023.  
78 WTO document  G/TBT/10.7/N/163, 20  December  2022.  
79 WTO document  G/TBT/10.7/ N/164, 20  December  2022.  
80 WTO document  G/TBT/10.7/N/165, 21  December  2022.  
81 WTO document  G/SPS/N/NAM/1, 18  October  2022.  
82 Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia (NAFSAN) (2014), Namibia Food Safety Policy . 
Viewed  at: http://www.nafsan.org/wp -content/uploads/2020/04/2014 -namibia -food-safety -policy.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 242 - 
 
  • The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources  (MFMR) is responsible for all regulatory 
activities relating to the food safety and primary handling of fish and fishery products, 
including chilling, freezing, filleting, transport, and packaging.  
• The MIT through the Namibia Standards Institute is responsible for developing standards 
on processing and processed foods, food additives, processing aids in foods, food labelling, 
and packaging materials.  
• The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development is responsible for the licensing of food 
service and f ood business operators.  
3.72.   Namibia's livestock and game sector contributes about 70% to agricultural GDP and about 
half of the agricultural exports, hence the importance of the veterinary regime (Section  4.1.1).83 In 
February  2020, Namibia for the first time exported (boneless) beef to the United  States.  
3.73.   The Directorate of Veterinary Services in the MAWLR is responsible for implementing the 
Animal Health Act, 2011 and related regulations.84 The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, 
originally OIE) Animal  Health Code is used as the guideline for setting import requirements. Imports 
of live animals and animal products generally require a veterinary import permit (NAD  50 per 
permit), a livestock movement permit for purposes of traceability, and in the case o f breeding 
material, a livestock improvement permit is also required. A health certificate is required for the 
exports of animals, animal products, and restricted material. The MAWLR manages the Namibian 
Livestock Identification and Traceability System  (NamLITS) to provide accurate records of animal 
disease surveillance, animal movements, and vaccinations in the country.  
3.74.   Due to sporadic outbreaks of the foot -and-mouth disease  (FMD) in the Northern Communal 
Areas  (NCAs), a Veterinary Cordon Fence  (VCF), also  called Red Line, separates the NCAs from the 
south of the country. This barrier serves to separate areas based on their animal disease status and 
is recognized by the WOAH. Cattle originating from the NCAs, where FMD is endemic, may not be 
marketed in the  FMD-free zone, south of the VCF, where FMD vaccination is not permitted. This 
restriction protects the access for beef produced in the FMD -free zone to high -value export markets, 
particularly the European  Union and EFTA markets. The most recent outbreak o f FMD north of the 
VCF occurred in October  2022.  
3.75.   Cattle may only be imported from countries free from bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy  (BSE) and FMD where vaccination is not practised. Live animals are usually only 
imported from South  Africa or occasionall y Botswana. In the case of animals/animal products from 
South  Africa, a veterinary import permit is only required for the importation of ostriches, elephants, 
wild pigs, wildebeest, and buffalo. Imports of other farm animals/animal products are subject to a 
veterinary movement certificate issued by an official veterinarian in South  Africa in accordance with 
the requirements as set out in the Namibian/South  African bilateral agreement.  Veterinary staff 
based at the border are available 24  hours a day to verify compliance with import and export 
requirements. All shipments of animals or animal products are verified, even if an MRA is in place. 
In the event of an immediate risk of a disease being introduced or further spread in Namibia, 
emergency rest rictions may be put in place to prohibit imports. Namibia has a regionalization policy 
in place in case of a disease outbreak.  
3.76.   Growth -promoting hormones are banned in animal production , while i mports of meat from 
hormone -treated animals are permitted.  
3.77.   The Plant Health Division of the MAWLR is responsible for phytosanitary measures, and the 
safety of wild plant products, honey, and insects. It also administers a permit system for domestic 
and imported agricultural inputs, as well a database for traceability purposes of registered and 
imported pesticides, fertilizer, and farm feeds. The phytosanitary regime is governed by, inter alia, 
the Agricultural Pest Act,  1973 and the Plant Quarantine Act,  2008 (which entered into force in 2012) 
and the Fertilizers, Farm  Feeds, Agricultural Remedies & Stock Remedies Act,  1947. The Plant 
 
83 Namibia's e xports of the livestock sector include, inter alia, live animals, meat, semen and embryos, 
hides and skins, and game trophies.  
84 Food products of animal origin, including meat, game, poultry, milk, and eggs. This includes animal 
feeds, fish meal, and customary animal foods such as donkey, dog, and frog, but shall exclude fish and fishery 
products.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 243 - 
 
  Quarantine Act and the 1947  Act are currently under review. All imports of plants, plant products, 
and other regulated articles require a permit issued by the MAWLR (NAD  100, valid for 21  days) and 
a phytosanitary certificate issued by the plant  protection  authority of the country of export.85 The 
Act also grants the Minister the authority to declare quarantine stations, areas, and pests  by notice 
in the Gazette . 
3.78.   The National Council for Re search Science and Technology is responsible for implementing 
the GMO regime established under the Biosafety Act,  200686, as supported by the Biosafety 
Regulations of 201687 and the GMO Product List No.  267 of 2022.88 The regime governs the placing 
on the market, including labelling, of genetically modified products (food and feed), as well as the 
use of GMOs for purposes of field trials. Imports of GM food or feed require a permit (valid one  year) 
from the Biosafety Council. The National GMO Testing, Train ing and Research Laboratory was 
established to ensure compliance with marketing and traceability standards; the lab is seeking 
international accreditation to ISO/IEC  17025 .89 
3.3.4   Competition policy and price controls  
3.79.   The Namibian Competition Act,  2003 entered into force in 2008 and the Namibian Competition 
Commission  (NaCC) was established in 2009.90 While the NaCC is responsible for regulating 
competition across all economic sectors, the Bank of Namibia  (BoN) and the Communications 
Regulatory Authority of Nami bia (CRAN ) overlap with the NaCC in terms of competition issues. So 
far, MoUs exist between the NaCC and Namport, the BoN and CRAN and the Electricity Control Board, 
while negotiations with the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority  (NAMFISA ) are at 
an advanced stage.  
3.80.   The NaCC is part of the SADC Working Group on competition matters. It has a long -standing 
relationship with the Competition Commission of South  Africa covering cross -border competition 
concerns, capacity -building, and cooperation . The NaCC and the Competition & Consumer Authority 
of Botswana recently developed an MoU for deeper cooperation, and the NaCC and the Competition 
& Consumer Protection Commission of Zambia are working on an MoU.  
3.81.   Namibia's National Competition Policy, adop ted in 2003, seeks to address particular aspects 
of the structure and nature of the Namibian economy.91 It states that "Namibian markets, of which 
many are relatively concentrated due to the small demographics and country size, operate as 
efficiently as possible to the benefit of consumers and enterprises. Major sectors such as the 
production/processing of brewing, cement, dairy, meat processing, milling (including animal feeds) 
and poultry are each dominated by single firms". Other particularities include the wide -ranging state 
involvement in the economy through SOEs; and policies that can have the effect o f limiting 
competition, such as industrial policy and QRs (e.g. on horticultural products) that aim to protect 
nascent industries. The policy sets out a number of guiding principles  (14), ranging from limiting 
anti-competitive conduct to regional/internati onal cooperation in the field of competition policy. It 
calls for a Competition Impact Assessment of new regulations and laws that may restrict competition. 
A review of the Competition Act has been completed and the revised Competition Bill, which updates 
its enforcement, merger control, and market inquiry provisions, has been submitted to the MIT.  
3.82.   In 2018, the NaCC introduced a draft leniency policy programme, under which cartel members 
may secure immunity from prosecution, or significantly reduced fines, if they come forward and 
 
85 The Act makes provision for fine s not exceeding NAD  20,000 or imprisonment for a period not 
exceeding two  years, or both, in the case of contravention of import requirements.  
86 Biosafety Act  7 of 2006. Viewed  at: 
https://www.lac.org.na/laws/annoSTAT/Biosafety%20Act%207%20of%202006.pdf . 
87 Biosafety Regulations, Government Notice  210 of  2016. Viewed  at: 
https:// faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nam174777.pdf . 
88 Government Gazette  (2022), No.  7903, 15  September. Viewed  at: 
http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2022/7903.pdf . 
89 NCRST, Administration of Biosafety Act . Viewed  at: https://ncrst.na/what -we-do/innovation -
technology -development/b iotechnology/administration -of-biosafety -act-2/. 
90 Government Gazette  (2003), No.  2964, 24  April. Viewed  at: 
https://www.nacc.com.na/cms_documents/c2c_competitionact2003.pdf . 
91 MIT, National Competition Policy, 2020 -2025. Viewed  at: 
https://www.nacc.com.na/cms_documents/90e_approved_national_competition_policy.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 244 - 
 
  confess collusion. The NaCC has since granted two leniency applications that contributed to the 
successful finalization and prosecution of two cartel investigations.  
3.83.   The Government sets prices of petrol, diesel, and paraffin under the Petroleum Products and 
Energy Act,  1990 (Section  4.3.2). According to the authorities, no other goods or services are 
subject to price controls.  
3.3.5   State trading, state -owned enterprises, and privatization  
3.84.   Namibia is overdue with regard to a notification regarding state trading enterprises. Its last 
notification from 2010 indicates that no state trading enterprises existed.92 
3.85.   Since the last Review, Namibia has made changes to its regime governing SOEs (public 
enterprises). Some commercial SOEs  continued to perform poorly and remain a fiscal burden.  
3.86.   In 2015, Namibia adopted the Public Enterprises Governance Amendment Act to merge and 
centralize the oversight functions of SOEs under a new Ministry for Public Enterprises  (MPE). 
In 2019, the Public  Enterprises Governance Act was adopted "to make provision for the efficient 
governance of public enterprises and the monitoring of their performance; to make provision for the 
restructuring of public enterprises; [and] to provide for the powers and functi ons of the Minister of 
Public Enterprises", among others.93 In December  2022, the MPE was merged with the MOF and is 
now called Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises  (MFPE).94 The adoption of a Public Enterprises 
Ownership Policy and a Public Financia l Management Bill is pending with the objective of, inter alia, 
strengthening the financial oversight of SOEs by the MFPE.  
3.87.   Namibia's 75 public enterprises are categorized as follows:  
• Commercial: The MFPE currently oversees 21 commercial public enterprises,  which are 
active in agriculture, mining, electricity generation and distribution, transport, telecom, 
and accommodation (Table  3.2). Assets totalled NAD  138 billion in 2022 with net assets 
of NAD  81 billion. Total employment stood at around 25,000. The Pu blic Enterprises 
Governance Act,  2019 requires that commercial SOEs must be capable of making a 
sustained profit. Subsidies amounted to NAD  748.7  million in FY2021/22 (down from 
NAD 808.8  million in FY2020/21).95 The main share was allocated to the loss -making Air 
Namibia (NAD  211 million in 2021/22). Air  Namibia was liquidated on 26  March  2021.  
• Non-commercial: There are 43  regulatory bodies, service providers (e.g.  NAMWATER), 
and other institutions overseen by the Ministries in charge.  
• Financial institutio ns & extra -budgetary funds: There are four financial institutions 
(Agribank of Namibia, Development Bank of Namibia, National Special Risks Insurance 
Association, and Namibia National Reinsurance Corporation) and 11 extra -budgetary funds 
(Minerals Developm ent Fund, Road Fund Administration), which are overseen by the MFPE.  
3.88.   The Public Enterprises Governance Act, 2019 provides for the restructuring of public 
enterprises, including liquidation or sale of their assets to the public. The Minister must submit a 
restructuring plan of any provisionally identified public enterprise to the Cabinet for determination.  
3.89.   In 2017, the Cabinet authorized NamPost and Telecommunications Holdings, which owns 
Mobile and Telecommunications Ltd (MTC) and NamPost, to sell shares. M TC was partially (40%) 
privatized in November 2021.  
 
92 WTO document  G/STR/N/10/NAM, 12  May 2010.  
93 Government Ga zette (2019), No.  6907, 17  May. Viewed  at: 
https://www.lac.org.na/laws/2019/6907.pdf . 
94 Department of Public Enterprises. Viewed  at: https://mpe.gov.na/about -us. 
95 Ministry of Public Enterprises. Viewed  at: https://www.parliament.na/wp -
content/uploads/ 2021/07/Vote34_PublicEnterp.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 245 - 
 
  Table  3.2 Namibia's commercial SOEs  
 Enterprise  Financial 
performance  Last statement  Subsidies  
(NAD  million,  
FY2021/22)  
1 Epangelo Mining Company  Loss-making  NAD 22 million , FY2023/24  4 
2 Henties Bay Waterfront  Dormant  .. None 
3 Lüderitz Waterfront Company  Profitable  NAD 9.8 million  FY2023/24  2 
4 Meat Corporation of Namibia  Loss-making  NAD 66.7 million, FY2019/20  None 
5 Mobile and 
Telecommunications Ltd (MTC)  Profitable  NAD 1.1 billion, FY2018/19  None 
6 Namibia Airports Company  Loss-making  NAD 77.5 million, FY2023/24  None 
7 Namibia Institute of Pathology  Loss-making  NAD 107 million , FY2023/24  107 
8 NamPost Profitable  NAD 6.5 million, FY2019/20  None 
9 Namibia Power Corporation 
(Nam Power)  Profitable  NAD 1.0 billion, FY2018/19  None 
10 Namibia Wildlife & Resorts 
Company  Profitable  NAD 50 million, FY2023/24  71 
11 Namibian Ports Authority  Profitable  NAD 157.8  million, FY2018/19  None 
12 National Fishing Corporation  Profitable  NAD 103.6  million, FY2016/17  None 
13 National Petroleum 
Corporation (NAMCOR)  Loss-making  NAD 66.6 million, FY2017/18  None 
14 Namibia Industrial 
Development Agency (NIDA)  Loss-making  .. None 
15 Roads Authority  Surplus  NAD 76.2 million, FY2018/19  None 
16 Roads Contractor Company  Loss-making  NAD 55.9 million , FY2023/24  44 
17 Telecom Namibia Ltd.  Loss-making  NAD 50.3 million, FY2017/18  None 
18 Transnamib  Loss-making  NAD 301.3  million, FY2023/24  None 
19 Namib Desert Diamonds Ltd 
(NAMDIA)  Profitable  NAD 150.2  million, FY2019/20  None 
20 Zambezi Waterfront  Dormant  NAD 4.5 million  FY2023/24  None 
21 Agro-Marketing and Trade 
Agency (AMTA)  Loss-making  NAD 72 million , FY2023/24  59 
.. Not available.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities ; and Department of Public Enterprises. Viewed  at: 
https://mpe.gov.na/public -enterprises -commercial . 
3.3.6   Government procurement  
3.90.   According to the authorities, Namibia is in the process of applying to become a member  of 
WTO Agreement on Government Procurement.  
3.91.   Namibia has reformed its government procurement regime since the last Review. Several 
shortcomings had been identified in the former government procurement regime, including a lack of 
an oversight body to monito r exemptions from official procurement procedures for major public 
procurement projects and a growing lack of public trust in Namibia's procurement agencies as 
evidenced by legal challenges to Tender Board decisions. The Tender Board Act,  1996 was thus 
repealed and replaced by the Public Procurement Act,  2015. The new Act and the Public Procurement 
Regulations,  2017 entered into force on 1  April 2017.96 The Act applies to some 170  listed public 
entities.  
3.92.   The Public Procurement Act,  2015 establishes a new st ructure to manage public procurement, 
which is based on three institutions:  
• The Procurement Policy Unit  (PPU) in the MFPE functions as regulator with advisory, 
oversight , and compliance -monitoring responsibilities. The PPU launched the E -GP for 
mandatory use on 1 April  2022. Instruction notes and guidance notes were also issued to 
attain efficiencies and improve governance.97 
• The Central Procurement Board of Namibia  (CPBN) , which replaced the Tender Board, 
deals with major contracts (with values higher than the prescribed thresholds) on behalf 
 
96 Office of the Prime Minister. Viewed  at: https://opm.gov.na/ . 
97 MFPE, eProcurement Portal. Viewed  at: https://eprocurement.gov.na/ . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 246 - 
 
  of public entities.98 The PPU is in the process of identifying subsidiaries of public entities 
for recommendation to be declared as public entities. The CPBN's bidding processes 
started in 2017. In 2020/21, the CPBN conducted 20  procurement processes to the value 
of NAD  6.7 billion on behalf of 11  public entities as follows: 71% via open national bidding, 
13% via open international bid ding, and 16% via direct procurement. The PPU expects to 
gradually raise the thresholds to allow public bodies to deal with higher value contracts 
and thus move towards the gradual decentralization of government procurement.  
• The Review Panel deals with com plaints and appeals from aggrieved bidders, which have 
seven  days to challenge a contract award. Details on the reviews are available on the 
E-GP Portal ( https://eprocurement.gov.na/en/home ). Disputes may be referred to the 
High Court. The Public Procurement Act,  2015 was amended on 22  October  2022 to, 
inter alia, give more powers to the Review Panel and limit emergency procurement.  
3.93.   The Act provides for empowerment measure s in favour of disadvantaged groups, Namibian 
enterprises, and local products. The Directive on Preferential Procurement  (2019) was replaced on 
31 January  2023 with the Code of Good Practice on Preferences with the aim to enhance measures 
to implement the Government's empowerment and development policies. Preferences are granted 
to local suppliers in the procurement or evaluation of bids for procurements reserved for categories 
of local suppliers. National preferences provide for price preferences granted t o Namibian suppliers 
or to goods, works, and services that meet minimum specified local content.  
3.94.   Some of the government procurement challenges in Namibia include:  
• Transparency: To improve transparency and accountability in government procurement, 
the PPU l aunched the E -GP Portal for all public entities as of 1  April 2022. Uptake and use 
of the E -GP Portal is still low. Also, compliance with the submission of Annual Procurement 
Plans remains low at 54% in 2021/22.  
• Procurement methods: Open advertised bidding  is the default method and deviations must 
be motivated. However, competitive bidding by public entities accounted for only 1% 
in 2020/21, which resorted mainly to non -competitive methods of procurement, notably 
request for sealed quotation (25%) and direc t procurement (23%).  
3.3.7   Intellectual property rights  
3.3.7.1   Overview  
3.95.   Namibia has made progress in modernizing its intellectual property regime. In 2016, the BIPA 
was established as an SOE and autonomous body, managed by the Chief Executive Officer and 
Registrar of B usiness and Intellectual Property (BIPA Act,  2016).99 All decisions taken, whether by 
the Registrar or as a delegated authority, become legally binding in terms of the relevant legislation.  
3.96.    Namibia has adopted its first National Intellectual Property Poli cy and Strategy (2019 -2024). 
The policy aims to, inter alia, "support and promote the generation, protection and 
commercialization of IP assets, stimulate transfer of technology, ensure adequate enforcement of 
intellectual property rights, increase IP awar eness, strengthen the creative industry and promote 
use of intellectual property in areas where Namibia has comparative and competitive advantage".100 
3.97.   Namibia has ratified various WIPO and African Regional Industrial Property 
Organization  (ARIPO) treaties ( Table  3.3). On 16  February  2022, Namibia withdrew a declaration 
with respect to the Madrid Agreement on marks, whereby trademarks designated for protection in 
 
98 The procurement thresholds for Category  1/2/3  entities are respective ly NAD  25/20/15  million 
(goods); NAD  35/30/20  million (works); NAD  20/15/10  million (consultancy services); and 
NAD 15/10/5  million (other services).  
99 Previously, BIPA had operated as an Association Not -for-Gain under Section  21 of the Companies 
Act, 2004. 
100 Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development and BIPA (2019), National Intellectual 
Property Policy and Strategy, 2019 -2024, p. 4. Viewed  at: https://wipolex -
res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/na/na031en.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 247 - 
 
  Namibia, prior to Namibia acceding to the agreement and depositing the instrument, may now be 
designated and protected in Namibia.  
3.98.    During the review period, Namibia recorded a total of 113,309  IPR registrations (as of  2022), 
of which 99% are trademarks (Table  3.3). BIPA has implemented the IPAS online filing system for 
IPRs under the Industrial Prope rty Act, while registration of copyright is still being done manually.  
Table  3.3 Namibia's membership in regional and international IPR bodies, 2023  
IPR bodies  Entry into force in Namibia  
Treaties and international agreements (WIPO)  
Berne Convention (Literary and Artistic Works)  21 March  1990 
WIPO Convention  23 December  1991 
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty  20 May 2002 
Paris Convention (Industrial Property)  1 January  2004 
Patent Convention Treaty  1 January  2004 
Hague Agreement (Industrial Designs)  30 June 2004 
Madrid Agreement (Marks)  30 June 2004 
Madrid Protocol (Marks)  30 June 2004 
Regional treaties (ARIPO)  
Lusaka Agreement (creation of ARIPO)  14 October  2003 
Banjul Protocol (Marks)  14 January  2004 
Harare Protocol (Patents and Industrial Designs)  23 April 2004 
Swakopmund Protocol (Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of 
Folklore)  5 November  2015 
Source:  WIPO.  
3.3.7.2   Copyright  
3.99.   Namibia's copyright legislation is outdated, according to the authorities. BIPA in collaboration 
with the MIT embarked on a legislative review process in 2019 to develop of a new modernized and 
responsive copyright law. The bill is under way and would repl ace the Copyright and Neighbouring 
Rights Protection Act,  1994. The new bill serves to, inter alia, provide an enabling legal framework 
for the development of creative industries in the digital environment and mechanisms for the 
protection of traditional k nowledge and traditional cultural expressions as articulated within the 
ARIPO Swakopmund Protocol on the protection of traditional knowledge and expressions of folklore, 
address concerns related to misappropriation and sharing of benefits, and provide adeq uate 
limitations and exceptions with the aim of promoting access to copyrighted works for educational 
purposes and visually impaired people.  
3.3.7.3   Industrial property rights  
3.100.   The new Industrial Property Act,  2012 covers, inter alia, patents, utility model certifi cates, 
industrial designs, trademarks, collective marks, certification marks, and trade names. Although 
passed by the Namibian Parliament in 2012, the IP Act only came into force on 1  August  2018.  
3.101.   The Act allows BIPA to register, grant, and protect all rig hts within its jurisdiction. A patent, 
utility model, industrial design, or trademark granted by ARIPO has the same legal standing as an 
IPR patent granted under the Act, unless otherwise communicated by the Registrar. A patent 
protection in terms of the A ct expires 20  years after the date of filing of the application. In 2021-22, 
518 patents were registered (up from 12 in 2014) (Table  3.4). 
3.102.   A compulsory licence may be granted by the Industrial Property Tribunal in the event of 
non-working or insufficient working of a patent101, if the patent cannot be exploited in Namibia 
without infringing an earlier patent (interdependence of patents), or to safeguard the public interest. 
In the event of exploitation of a patented invention by the Government in the public interest, 
adequate compensation must be provided unless importation takes place under the WTO's Decision 
on Compulsory Licensing or Article  31bis of the TRIPS  Agreement and the exporting country issues 
a compulsory licence for the same patent ed invention. No compulsory licences have been granted 
under the Industrial Property Act to date.  
 
101 After the expiration of a period of four  years from the date of filing of the patent application or 
three  years from the date of the granting of the patent, whichever pe riod expires last.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 248 - 
 
  3.103.   The Act provides for registration and protection for new industrial designs nationally, 
however, designs are registered in terms of the Harare Protocol region ally, and internally in terms 
of the Hague Agreement. Classifications internally are done in accordance with the Locarno 
classification principles. The registered owner of a design has exclusive right of use, including in 
relation to imports of any article  included in the class in which the design is registered. The 
registration in respect of a design expires 15  years after the application filing date. The Act is not 
implemented with regard to utility model certificates.  
3.104.   Trademarks cover marks for both good s and services and may not be limited in whole or in 
part to a particular colour or colours. The registration of a trademark is valid for 10  years, renewable. 
The owner of a trademark that is entitled to protection as a well -known mark under the 
Paris Convention may restrain its use in Namibia even though it is not registered in Namibia.  
3.105.   Namibia does not have a sui generis  legal instrument for the protection of geographical 
indications. However, geographical names or other indications of geographical origin  may be 
registered as certification or collective trademarks under the Act.  
3.3.7.4   Enforcement  
3.106.   The Industrial Property Act,  2012 provides for the establishment of an Industrial Property 
Tribunal with jurisdiction to decide upon any appeals lodged and to adjudicat e on any matter under 
the Act. The BIPA has engaged the Judge -President of the High Court of Namibia, resorting under 
the Namibian Judiciary, to designate judges to serve as members of the Tribunal. The tribunal 
became operational in 2022 and heard its fir st case in end -November  2022.  
3.107.   Since the last Review, BIPA , together with WIPO , has held numerous capacity -building 
seminars and workshops on enforcement matters with stakeholders, including the police, judges, 
and magistrates. BIPA also proceeded to enforc e a recent judgement (16  December  2022) by the 
High Court.  
Table  3.4 Intellectual property registrations, FY2018/19 -FY2021/22  
 FY2018/19  FY2019/20  FY2020/21  FY2021/22  
Trademarks  3,809  3,699  3,932  2,618  
Industrial designs  168 162 160 110 
Utility models  15 7 7 7 
Patents  330 435 452 518 
Copyright  215 98 95 76 
Total 4,537  4,401  4,646  3,329  
Source:  BIPA.  
  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 249 - 
 
  4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture and forestry  
4.1.1   Main features  
4.1.  Agriculture and forestry contribute about 7% to GDP (Table  1.1). Approximately 70% of the 
Namibian population depends, directly or indirectly, on agriculture for their livelihoods. Namibia has 
a large communal smallholder sector primarily farming for subsistence, and a large land -intensive 
commercial farming sector. Livestock farming contributes well over half of the total value of 
agricultural production (Table  4.1). 
4.2.  Namibia is an arid country with severe droughts. A state of emergency was declared as a result 
of the 2019 drought.  Agricultural production recovered in 2020, due to better rainfall (Table  4.1). 
Maize and pearl millets (mahangu) are Namibia's main staples. Maize is predominantly grown by 
commercial farms, while pearl millets are grown mainly as a subsistence crop in th e Northern 
Communal Areas  (NCAs) . Millets and sorghum account for about 90% of the total area planted with 
grains.  
4.3.  Namibia is a net -importer of agricultural products  and imports more than 50% of the cereals 
and horticultural products consumed locally.102 Live animals (mostly cattle, sheep, and goats) and 
meat exports contributed half of agricultural exports on average in 2018-20. Exports of fruits and 
vegetables come second (in value terms) after live animals, having grown strongly in recent yea rs 
(led by grapes, blueberries, dates, and onions).  
4.4.  Namibia is a major exporter of charcoal (NAD  49 million in 2020, nearly 1% of total exports). 
Charcoal production is a regulated activity, used mainly for managing bush encroachment and 
restoring grasslan d. 
4.1.2   Agricultural policy  
4.1.2.1   Policy framework  
4.5.  The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform  (MAWLR) is responsible for the formulation 
and implementation of agricultural policy.103 The Ministry oversees three regulatory agricultural 
agencies, namely the Nam ibia Agronomic Board  (NAB), the Meat Board of Namibia  (MBN), and the 
Karakul Board of Namibia.104 The Agro -Marketing and Trade Agency  (AMTA) and the Agricultural 
Business Development Agency  (AGRIBUSDEV) are SOEs under the supervision of the Ministry of 
Finance and Public Enterprises.  
4.6.  Namibia has reviewed its agricultural policy of 1995 and adopted the National Agriculture 
Policy  (2015), which aims to achieve sustainable growth of production, marketing, and agro -industry 
development.105 The policy framework ta kes into account new issues such as climate change, as well 
as Namibia's international commitments such as the SADC initiative to develop a common agriculture 
development agenda (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme) and the Malabo 
Declar ation (calling for at least 10% of public expenditure to be allocated to agriculture).  
4.7.  The Ministry subsequently developed the Harambee Comprehensively Coordinated and 
Integrated Agricultural Development Programme  (HACCIADEP) of 2017, which aims at stimula ting 
production and market access for crops and livestock products especially from small - and 
medium -scale farmers and agro -processors. The Namibia Agricultural Mechanism and Seed 
Improvement Project  (NAMSIP) has been  designed in line with the HACCIADEP, to improve the  crop 
 
102 MAWLR, Agricultural Statistics Bulletin 2020 . Viewed  at: 
https://mawf.gov.na/documents/37726/1359391/2020+AGRICULTURAL+STATISTICS+BULLETIN.pdf/2cc0ac5
d-544c-46d4-9bc4-b5dfd313e4e4 . 
103 In 2020, the Ministry was restructured from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to the 
Ministry  of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.  
104 Karakul Pelts and Wool Act  14 of 1982. Viewed  at: 
https://www.lac.org.na/laws/annoSTAT/Karakul% 20Pelts%20and%20Wool%20Act%2014%20of%201982.pdf . 
105 Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Namibia Agriculture Policy . Viewed  at: 
https://faolex.fao.org/do cs/pdf/nam175768.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 250 - 
 
  and livestock value chain s. The project will be implemented nationwide by the MAWLR over a period 
of five  years, at a total cost of NAD  1.42 billion. The Ministry is currently in the process of developing 
a Namibia National Agriculture I nvestment Plan and reviewing the outdated the National Drought 
Policy and Strategy  (1997).  
4.8.  The AGRIBUSDEV administers Namibia's Green Scheme Policy  (2008), which targets about 
27,000  ha for irrigation development along the perennial rivers in the North and  South (Kunene, 
Kavango, Zambezi, and Orange). However, these government projects have been in financial 
difficulties and only about 9,000  ha under irrigation were accomplished by  FY2019/20. The services 
provided to farmers include, inter alia, centre pivo t irrigation systems, tillage services, and training.  
4.9.  As part of its Growth at Home Strategy, Namibia (through the NAB) has been implementing 
two key schemes to promote import substitution of grains and horticultural products and thereby 
meet food security  objectives. The Namibian Horticulture Market Share Promotion Scheme and the 
Grain Marketing Mechanism combine local purchase requirements with restrictions on imports 
(Sections  4.1.3.3  and 4.1.3. 4). The MBN manages a similar scheme for pork.  
4.10.   Furthermore, Namibian agricultural policy is aimed at the sustainable utilization of scarce 
water resources, and land reform. Government interventions include farm resettlements and the 
transfer of commercially viable agricultural land.106 Namibia remains c ommitted to a "willing seller, 
willing buyer" approach to land reform and the provision of fair compensation in line with the 
Constitution.  
4.11.   The agricultural finance system comprises the Development Bank of Namibia and the 
Agricultural Bank of Namibia  (Agribank). Agribank offers a range of loan schemes107, with the 
concessional Affirmative Action Loan Scheme supporting the implementation of Namibia's land 
reform policy.108 
4.12.   Namibia has outstanding notification obligations to the WTO Committee on Agriculture. It s 
last domestic support notifications date from 2010.109 Most of the notified domestic support was 
provided in terms of Green Box general services, and input subsidies.  
Table  4.1 Value of agricultural productio n in Namibia, 2014 -21 
 2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total value of production 
(NAD  million)  5,980  6,391  6,502  9,848  11,213  9,612  12,375  13,467  
of which in %         
 
Livestock & animal products  54.4 61.6 57.0 62.9 62.3 67.3 57.0 60.1 
Cattle  35.6 40.6 38.7 47.8 48.9 52.2 47.2 50.0 
Sheep/goats  11.2 12.9 9.4 8.8 7.0 7.7 4.5 5.3 
Pigs 2.3 2.5 2.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.1 2.1 
Karakul pelts and wool  1.8 1.8 1.9 1.3 1.3 1.4 0.8 0.6 
Dairy (milk)  1.8 2.1 2.2 1.4 1.4 1.7 0.9 0.7 
Other  1.7 1.8 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.4 1.5 
Crops  45.6 38.4 43.0 37.1 37.7 32.7 43.0 39.9 
Wheat  1.9 1.6 1.6 1.1 1.2 1.3 0.9 1.0 
Maize  5.6 3.8 5.6 6.2 5.7 5.2 4.6 4.7 
Grapes  7.1 10.2 10.2 7.2 7.8 11.0 8.5 8.7 
Own account  30.6 22.4 25.1 22.3 22.8 14.9 28.9 25.3 
Own consumption  0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 
Source:  MAWLR (2020), Agricultural Statistics Bulletin . Viewed  at: 
https://mawf.gov.na/documents/37726/1359391/2020+AGRICULTURAL+STATISTICS+BULLETIN.pd
f/2cc0ac5d -544c-46d4-9bc4-b5dfd313e4e 4; and information provided by the authorities . 
4.1.2.2   Input subsidy schemes  
4.13.   The MAWLR has been implementing several input subsidy schemes, including:  
 
106 GIZ, Sector Brief Namibia: Agriculture . Viewed  at: https://www.giz.de/en/downloads/giz2022 -en-
namibia -agriculture.pd f. 
107 Agribank, Products . Viewed  at: https://agribank.com.na/page/products/ . 
108 Agribank, Affirmative Action Loan Scheme (AALS) . View ed at: 
https://agribank.com.na/product/affirmative -action -loan-scheme -aals-1. 
109 WTO documents  G/AG/N/NAM/  18-19, 15 October  2010.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 251 - 
 
  • Dry Land Crop Production Programme  (DLCPP): The scheme launched in 2006 is aimed at 
empowering farmers in 10  regions of the N CAs to enhance household food security. It 
provides subsidized fertilizer and seeds, as well as subsidized mechanization services for 
tillage, planting, and weeding. Farm services are subsidized at 60%  of the market price 
for a maximum of 5  ha, on a first -come, first -served basis. About 100,000  households are 
eligible and about 31,000  beneficiaries were registered in the 2020/21  season. Budgeted 
expenditures were NAD  20.6 million in 2021/22.110 
• Cereal Value C hain Development Programme  (CVDS): The scheme launched in 2020 
complements the DLCPP in the 10  eligible regions to  increase food production and 
productivity. During the 2021/22 season, the MAWLR subsidized seeds of mahangu 
(253 tonnes), maize, and cowpeas,  benefiting 25,966 cereal producers; 922  cereal 
producers received 631  tonnes of subsidized fertilizers; 9,792  cereal producers benefited 
from mechanized services, and 16,354  ha were tilled.  Budgeted expenditures were 
NAD 4.8 million in 2021/22.  
• Comprehensive Conservation Agriculture Programme  (CCAP): The scheme was launched 
in 2015 and complements the DLCPP. It is implemented country -wide to help communal 
and commercial farmers improve crop production, soil fertility, and climate resilience. It 
provides, inter alia, subsidized ploughing services and subsidized inputs (improved seeds). 
Budgeted expenditures were NAD  5 million in 2021/22.  
• According to the authorities, since 2016, the MAWLR spent over NAD  200 million for 
interventions under the D LCPP, CVDS, and CCAP. For 2022/23, a total amount of 
NAD 30.5 million has been allocated.  
• Horticulture Support and Value Chain Development Subsidies: The scheme provides 
subsidized seeds, fertilizer, irrigation material, and tractor services. It targets about 
1,000  small -scale horticultural producers with 0.01  ha to  0.5 ha in all 14  regions. There 
were 701  beneficiaries in 2021/22 (355  male and 346  female). Total expenditures since 
the scheme was launched in 2018 amount to NAD  30.2 million. The budget for 2022/ 23 is 
NAD 6 million.  
• Poultry Value Chain Development Scheme: The country -wide scheme provides input 
subsidies (for breeding stock, veterinary medicines, feeds, incubators, etc) focusing on 
communal, resettlement, and (semi)  urban  areas. There were 1,667  beneficiaries in 
FY2021/22 (685  male and 982  female). Expenditures amount to NAD  7 million since the 
scheme was launched in 2020/21.  
• Dairy Value Chain Development Scheme: The scheme aims to develop a rural dairy 
industry based on small and medium holder prod uction systems, targeting c ommunal, 
resettled, and emerging commercial dairy producers. It provides subsidies for veterinary 
medicines, feed, equipment and inputs, machinery, shelters, and milking parlours, as per 
implementation guidelines developed each y ear. NAD  4 million was allocated for 2022/23.  
4.1.2.3   Strategic food reserve  
4.14.   AMTA is a commercial SOE responsible for, inter alia, managing the National Strategic Food 
Reserve  (NSFR). A subsidy of NAD  59 million was allocated to AMTA in FY2021/22 (Table  3.2 ).111 
The total storage capacity is 22,900  tonnes in five  locations.112 There are plans to increase the 
reserve capacity to 68,000  MT, equivalent to four  months of emergency food relief.  
4.15.   Purchases of maize and mahangu for the food reserve are carried out at floor prices as per 
the Grain Marketing Mechanism (Section  4.1.3. 4). Grain is released from the reserve through the 
 
110 Namibian Farmer  (2021), "Namibia Roll Out Programme to Contribute to the Reduction of Poverty 
and Income Inequality", 9  November. Viewed  at: https://namibianfarming.com/namibia -roll-out-programme -
to-contribute -to-the-reduction -of-poverty -and-income -inequality/ . 
111 AMTA manages the five food reserves located in Katima Mulilo (Zambezi region), Omuthiya 
(Oshikoto), Katwitwi (Kavango West), Okongo (Ohangwena), and Tsandi (Omusati).  
112 AMTA, National Strategic Food Reserves . Viewed  at: https://www.amta.na/nfsr/ . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 252 - 
 
  Office of the Prime Minister's Directorate of Disaster and Risk Management for distribution in disaster 
relief operations or for subsidized sale t o small -scale millers that do not have the capacity to import.  
4.1.3   Market access  
4.16.   In addition to the SACU  CET, Namibia applies various trade policy instruments on imports of 
agricultural products, including tariff quotas, and quantitative restrictions  (QRs) /seasonal import 
bans combined with local purchase requirements.  
4.1.3.1   Tariff quotas  
4.17.   Namibia administers tariff quotas for agricultural products within the framework of its RTAs 
(Main Report, Section 3.3.3) and under the SACU rebate facilities . The rebate facili ties are managed 
in accordance with Article  20 of the SACU Agreement and are effectively MFN tariff quotas, which 
allow limited quantities of specific products to be imported duty -free into Namibia, Botswana, 
Eswatini, and Lesotho from outside SACU.113 For Namibia, rebate facility quotas were created for 
wheat (in  1996) for local processing and dairy products. The rebate facilities are allocated through 
rebate permits by the MAWLR on the basis of previous year utilization, while allowing access for new 
entra nts.114 Information on the application procedure is published in newspapers in September of 
each year. The rebated products cannot be re -exported to other SACU  members or markets without 
undergoing a tariff level heading of transformation.  
4.1.3.2   Quantitative rest rictions  
4.18.   Since  2013, Namibia has implemented QRs (quotas) of 600  tonnes per month for imports of 
poultry products, with the objective to allow the local industry to penetrate the Namibian poultry 
market and provide import protection against dumping. The qu ota was increased to a maximum of 
900 tonnes per month in 2015 and increased again to 1,500  tonnes per month in 2020. The QRs 
apply to SACU  members and other WTO  Members and are administered by the Ministry of 
Industrialisation and Trade  (MIT). The allocat ion of the import quota is based on companies' market 
share and local purchases; 10% of the quota is reserved for newcomers. The committee 
administering the QR meets monthly and adjusts QR volumes when necessary, depending on local 
supply. The QRs have bee n challenged in Namibia's national courts and a settlement was reached 
between the affected parties through a court order  in 2021. Poultry production has expanded rapidly , 
especially in the communal areas in recent years. Namibia has a poultry abattoir tha t, according to 
the authorities, has helped to reduce imports and created jobs in the poultry industry and supporting 
industries such as packaging, logistics, and marketing.  
4.19.   The Pork Market Share Promotion Scheme, implemented by the MBN since 2012, is a QR with 
the aim to promote local pig producers and protect the domestic pork industry against import 
competition. The scheme is a carcass -based scheme where local producers offer carcasses to 
importers at a monthly pork ceiling price as de termined by the MBN. Importers are required to 
procure locally first and build  up an import quota to be used for importing pork. The local purchase 
to quota ratio is 1:1 between February to October (in season) and 1:3 for November to January (out 
of season ). If no local products are available, import permits are issued by the MBN. The restrictions 
apply to imports of fresh and frozen pork carcasses and cuts from all origins, including from 
SACU  members. According to the authorities, the scheme has achieved a 50% contribution of local 
production to national consumption. The MBN is in the process of reviewing the modalities to include 
more small -scale producers and eventually increase exports.  
 
113 WTO document  G/LIC/N/3/NAM/5, 11  May 2010; and Sekolokwane,  K., et  al. (2017), "Overview of 
the Rebate Facilities in the Southern African Customs Union", 3  May. Viewed  at: 
https://www.tralac.org/publications/article/11572 -overview -of-the-rebate -facilities -in-the-southern -african -
customs -union.html . 
114 MAWLR, Rebate (Commodities) Permit . Viewed  at: https://mawf.gov.na/web/mawf/rebate -
commodities -permit . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 253 - 
 
  4.1.3.3   Namibian Horticulture Market Share Promotion Scheme  
4.20.   The Namibian Ho rticulture Market Share Promotion  (MSP) Scheme was launched in 2004 by 
the NAB  with the aim to increase local production of fruits and vegetables for import substitution 
purposes.  
4.21.   Under the scheme, importers of fresh horticulture produce are required to so urce a minimum 
percentage of their products from Namibian producers (for domestic consumption or export), prior 
to qualifying for an import permit. The minimum local purchase share was 5% when the scheme 
was established, and the threshold has been progress ively raised to 47% at present.115 Horticulture 
farmers not registered with the NAB are not included in the MSP. Both local horticultural production 
and imports increased steadily between 2016 and 2020 (Table  4.3). 
4.22.   Implementation of the MSP scheme involves complex rules for imports, exports, and transit. 
Currently, the NAB applies import restrictions on 19  special controlled products (fruits and 
vegetables) during times of sufficient local production, based on the outcome of a five -month 
production forecast report issued on a monthly basis by the NAB.  The NAB issues monthly notices 
on closed or open borders116 and importers are normally notified five  months in advance of the 
import restrictions. Border controls to enforce the MSP scheme are carried out at all Namibian border 
posts by the NAB Border Control Inspectorate. The following MSP levies are collected by  the NAB: 
5% import levy and 1.4%  levy on sales.  
4.23.   The MSP threshold of 47% serves as a prerequisite to obtaining an import permit, which 
means that only traders/importers that have achieved their minimum MSP are allowed to import 
horticultural products unre stricted. Traders/importers that fail to comply with this requirement are 
restricted to importing horticultural products equivalent to a predetermined monetary value.  
Table  4.2 Production and imports of controlled agronomic crops, 2016 -20 
('000 tonnes)  
 Horticultural products  Pearl millets  Wheat  White maize  
Local 
production  Importsa Local 
production  Imports  Local 
production  Imports  Local 
production  Imports  
2016 24.1 47.1 20.9 6.1 10.4 121.3  43.6 110.2  
2017 28.6 52.4 60.4 5.5 6.9 104.2  80.0 50.5 
2018 31.4 57.4 87.6 0.9 7.5 118.7  64.9 59.6 
2019 38.6 62.3 9.7 3.3 4.5 114.4  43.6 171.0  
2020 42.5 68.5 97.9 0.7 4.8 125.8  60.1 113.2  
Note:  Figures are based on marketing years.  
Source:  MAWLR (2020), Agricultural Statistics Bullet in 2020. Viewed  at: 
https://mawf.gov.na/documen ts/37726/1359391/2020+AGRICULTURAL+STATISTICS+BULLETIN.pd
f/2cc0ac5d -544c-46d4-9bc4-b5dfd313e4e4 . 
4.1.3.4   Grain Marketing Mechanism  
4.24.   Namibia's declared objective is to promote self -sufficiency in the main staples.117 The country 
has virtually achieved self -sufficiency in millets and is about 30% -50% self-sufficient in maize. For 
wheat, however, Namibia imports over 90% of its annual requirements, mainly under the SACU 
rebate facility and RTA -related tariff quotas (Tab le 4.2). 
4.25.   The marketing of white maize, wheat, and pearl millets is governed by annual marketing 
agreements between organized farmers and processors (millers) under the oversight of the NAB. 
The agreements cover border measures to give preference to local p roduction, domestic purchase 
requirements, and guaranteed producer prices.  
 
115 NAB, Horticulture Market Share Promotion (MSP) Scheme . Viewed  at: 
https://www.nab.com.na/horticulture/market -share -
price/#:~:text=HORTICULTURE%20MARKET%20SHARE%20PROMOTION%20(MSP)%20SCHEME&text=The%2
0minimum%20MSP%20currently%20stands,to%20import%20horticultural%20products%2 0unrestricted ; and 
https://www.nab.com.na/nab -board -increases -the-horiticulture -market -share -promotion -msp-from-44-to-47/. 
116 NAB, Import Restrictions . Viewed  at: https://www.nab.com.na/horticulture/import -restrictions/ . 
117 Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Namibia Agriculture Policy . Viewed  at: 
https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nam175768.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 254 - 
 
  4.26.   Importers of controlled grains for commercial use or human consumption must register with 
the NAB as miller (there are currently 23  registered  millers) and require an import permit issued by 
the NAB and the MAWLR. Import permits are granted only during the open border period once 
domestic production has been marketed to millers or unless the harvested crop in insufficient, as 
determined by the NAB. Border openings and closures are no tified by the NAB.118 The import 
restrictions also apply to wheat flour and only the raw forms may be imported and, in most cases, 
only specialized wheat flour.  Import permits are normally valid for 90  days (shorter validity periods 
may apply near the close d border period). Under the grain marketing rules, the millers agree to 
purchase the entire domestic harvest. Millers are allocated a "buying quota" of the domestic harvest 
based on past performance.  
4.27.   The marketing of the domestic grain crop is regulated by  floor prices:  
• For white maize and wheat, floor prices are agreed annually between organized farmers 
and processors, which are based on import parity prices using a five -year average of the 
South  African Futures Exchange  (SAFEX) spot price. The price formulas include, inter alia, 
a GMO -free premium (8%) for maize.119 
• For mahangu, the annual floor price is based on the cost of production.120 
4.28.   The NAB collects the following levies: 1.4%  on farmers' sales and 1.4%  from processor s on 
domestic purchases and imports.  
4.1.4   Export measures  
4.29.   Namibia is overdue with regard to its WTO notifications on agricultural export subsidies; its 
last notification dates from 2010.121 
4.30.   The MBN charges a levy on exports of livestock at 1% of the transaction value pursuant to 
the Meat Industry Act,  1981 to fund its operations.  
4.31.   The Small Stock Marketing Scheme  has been implemented since 2004, where exports of 
sheep were subject to a 6:1 rule (six  sheep must be slaughtered locally for each sheep exported 
live). The ratio was revised to 3:1 and 1:1 in 2013. The scheme was suspended by Cabinet in 
August  2019, and currently no export restrictions are applied . The MBN has requested the 
permanent abolishment of the scheme.  
4.2  Fisheries  
4.32.   Namibia's fisheries contribute abou t 2.8% to GDP (Table  1.1) and provide direct employment 
for about 18,000  people. Its EEZ  covers 540,000  km2 with a 1,572  km coastline along the 
South  Atlantic . Its marine resources are found in one of the most productive fishing grounds in the 
world, resulting from the Benguela Current Upwelling System, whose high phytoplankton growth 
supports rich populations of demersal and pelagic fish. There are eight commerc ially fished 
species.122 The horse mackerel fishery has the largest landings (Table  A4.1) but generates less value 
than the hake fishery (about 25% of the total final value).  
4.33.   Namibia continues to export over 80% of its annual catches.  Exports of fish and fi sh products 
amounted to about NAD  10 billion in 2021 (Table  4.4). Its main export markets are the 
European  Union led by Spain, and South  Africa (hake, monk, and tuna); the 
Democratic  Republic  of the Congo, Mozambique, Zambia, and South  Africa (horse macker el); Japan 
 
118 NAB. Viewed  at: https://www.nab.com.na/wp -content/uploads/2022/07/Grain -Import -
restrictions.docx.pdf . 
119 NAB, Agreement regarding the White Maize Marketing Mechanism and Reference Price Formula for 
the 2022  Marketing Season . Viewed  at: https://www.nab.com.na/wp -content/uploads/2022/06/WHITE -MAIZE -
MARK ETING -AGREEMENT.pdf . 
120 NAB, Agreement regarding Mahangu Marketing Mechanism and Reference Price Formula for the 
2022 Season . Viewed  at: https://www.nab.com.na/wp -content/uploads/2022/06/MAHANGU -MARKETING -
AGREEMENT.pdf . 
121 WTO document  G/AG/N/NAM/16, 26  April 2010. 
122 Hake, horse mackerel, crab, rock lobster, monk, seals, line fish, and large pelagic species.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 255 - 
 
  (rock lobster); China (crab); South  Africa (pilchards); Spain, Japan, and the United  States (tuna, 
swordfish, and shark); and China and South  Africa (seals).  
Table  4.3 Value of fish and fish product s, 2015 -21 
(NAD  million)  
Value  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Landed value  10,304  16,449  22,120  12,628  11,226  10,898  11,255  
Final value  11,934  17,574  24,516  13,020  12,262  11,668  12,500  
Export value  7,780  8,838  8,960  9,745  10,516  10,118  10,095  
Note:  The landed value is determined by the total cost incurred during harvesting at sea before any 
transformation takes place onshore, while the final value is the value of processed fish/fishery 
products as sold.  
Source:  Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources  (MFMR).  
4.34.   Namibia is a member of various regional fishery management organizations, namely the 
South East Atlantic Fisheries Organization  (SEAFO), the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas  (ICCAT), and the Commission for t he Conservation of Antarctic 
Marine Living Resources  (CCAMLR). Namibia, together with Angola and South  Africa, is party to the 
Benguela Current Convention with the aim of safeguarding the sustainable use of the Benguela 
Current Large Marine Ecosystem  (BCLM E).123 Namibia does not have bilateral market access 
agreements for its fisheries. The Marine Resources Act,  2000 makes provision for fisheries 
agreements within the framework of SADC.  
4.35.   Namibia is yet to commence the process of ratification of the WTO  Agreem ent on Fisheries 
Subsidies. It has been the Namibian government policy not to subsidize the fishing industry.  
4.36.   The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources  (MFMR) manages capture fisheries (marine 
and freshwater) and aquaculture (mariculture and freshwate r). The main fisheries legislation 
comprises the Marine Resources Act,  2000 as amended in 2015, and the Inland Fisheries Act,  2002. 
According to the authorities, t he Ministry is in the process of reviewing and harmonizing its policies 
and legislation. The fishing industry has been consulted on the possibility of joining  the Extractive 
Industries Transparency Initiative  (EITI) and Namibia i s in the process of analysing the impact on 
sustainable management of the marine resources.  A fisheries management plan has been in place 
since 2008 for hake, and in 2020 Namibia's hake fishery received Marine Stewardship Council 
certification for sustainable fishing.124 
4.37.   Since  2007 a national plan of action has been in place to prevent IUU fishing. The plan sets 
out its resp onsibilities and measures as flag, coastal, and port state. Namibia introduced Vessel 
Monitoring System  (VMS) regulations in 2005 and amendments in 2014; and a satellite -based VMS 
was implemented in 2007 and upgraded in 2022 . Transhipment at sea between fishing vessels and 
carrier vessels is prohibited. All catches must be landed at Namibian ports, where transhipment may 
be authorized by the Executive Director, and must be accompanied by the regional fisheries 
management organization's  (RFMO) catc h documents. According to the authorities, Namibia has 
complied with the EC Catch Documentation Scheme since 2009 for all fishery exports to the 
European  Union, and it also requires original catch documentation issued by the catching vessel flag 
state for third-country imports into Namibia. Under the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (ratified 
in 2017), all foreign fishing vessels requesting permission to land their catches in Namibian ports 
must be accompanied by export authorization and certificates issue d by their flag states. Namibia 
has developed a National IUU vessel list that allows for priority risk assessments of all foreign fishing 
vessels requesting permission to enter Namibian ports. Fishing vessels on this list, when suspected 
of illegal fishing  or in support of illegal fishing activities, are denied entry into Namibian ports . 
4.38.   Namibia's fisheries management regime includes the following instruments:  
 
123 Benguela Current Convention. Viewed  at: https://www.benguelacc.org/ . 
124 Marine St ewardship Council (2020), "Namibian Fishery Is Second in Africa to Be Certified as 
Sustainable", 17  November. Viewed  at: https://www.msc.org/media -centre/press -releases/press -
release/namibian -fishery -is-second -in-africa -to-be-certified -as-sustainable . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 256 - 
 
  • Fishing rights: The eligibility criteria for a fishing right are contained in the Ministry's polic y 
statement/guidelines of 2013.125 Preference is given to Namibians and Namibian 
enterprises under a policy of "Namibianisation". Foreign ownership is permitted through 
joint ventures; "in exceptional cases rights may be granted to wholly foreign owned 
ventures: where the foreign investment can be shown to contribute to economic and 
overall development in Namibia; where there is an appropriate plan for Namibianisation 
of the business". Other criteria include the advancement disadvantaged persons, regional 
development within Namibia, and conservation of fish resources. The tenure of the fishing 
rights (7,  10, 15, or 20  years) is based on the percentage of Namibian ownership of the 
fishing vessel or the percentage of the catches processed domestically, as well as 
employment creation for Namibian citizens. The rights are not transferable, except with 
the approval of the Minister. The selection process consists of six stages: (i)  invitation to 
the public; (ii)  application; (iii)  appointment of evaluation committee ; (iv)  evaluation; 
(v) Cabinet endorsement; and (vi)  announcement and notification. The number of fishing 
rights increased from 338 in 2014 to 468 in 2022. Fishing rights are published in the 
newspapers.126 
• Total allowable catch  (TAC): The MFMR sets the TAC  annually for the eight "quota 
fisheries" with the objective of managing resources sustainably and preventing 
overexploitation of fish stocks. The Ministry makes TAC recommendations based on the 
best available scientific data as advised through the Marine Resources Advisory Council, 
which includes various stakeholders. The Advisory Council's advice is then forwarded to 
the Minister for consideration and endorsement by the Cabinet.  
• Fishing quotas: The TAC is allocated to fishing right holders through seasonal fishing 
quotas. The Ministry allocates the quotas taking into consideration section 39 of the Marine 
Resources Act, 2000 .127 The Act was amended in 2015 "to provide for the sover eign 
exercise of ownership by the State over marine resources" and "to advance any 
social -economic, cultural or other governmental objectives in the public interest", whereby  
the Minister was given discretionary powers to allocate fishing quotas to right h olders.128 
The Minister was also authorized to allocate a fishing quota to the state -owned National 
Fishing Corporation  (Fishcor) specifically for governmental objectives. Fishing quotas are 
subject to quota fees. Quotas are non -transferable on a permanent basis, except with the 
approval of the Minister. In 2020, the Government introduced auctioning for hake, monk, 
and horse mackerel fishing quotas.129 The process is advertised in print media by the MFPE 
and the MFMR, and the auction process is the responsibi lity of the MFPE.  
• Vessel licensing regime: Namibian policy is "to allow foreign investors to form business 
ventures with Namibian right holders, rather than entering into access agreements 
allowing foreign vessels to fish in Namibian waters".130 During FY20 21/22, a total number 
of 262 vessels were licensed to operate in the Namibian EEZ (up from 207 in 2020), an 
increase mainly in the large pelagic and line -fish fleet.  
4.39.   The following fees and levies apply:  
 
125 MFMR, Policy Statement (Guidelines) for the Granting of Rights to Harvest Marin e Resources and the 
Allocation of Fishing Quotas MFMR . Viewed  at: 
https://mfmr.gov.na/documents/411764/417987/POLICY+STATEMENT+%28GUIDELINES%29+FOR+THE+GR
ANTING+OF+RIGHTS+TO+HARVETS+MARINE+RESOURCES.pdf/427b96bf -6572-5df4-6cc5-d5d62d547480 . 
126 Erongo  (2021), "New and Renewed Fishing Right  Holders Announced", 30  March Viewed  at: 
https://www.erongo.com.na/news/new -and-renewed -fishing -right-holders -announced -2021-03-30. 
127 Marine Resources Act  27 of 2000. Viewed  at: 
https://www.lac.org.na/laws/annoSTAT/Marine%20Resources%20Act%2027%20of%202000.pdf . 
128 Government Gazette (2015), No.  5837, 24  September. Viewed  at: 
https://www.lac.org.na/laws/2015/5837.pdf . 
129 Harambee Prosperity Plan II (2021 -2025). Viewed  at: http://hppii.gov.na/wp -
content/uploads/2021/03/HPP2.pdf ; and MFMR (2013),  "Governmental Fish Quota to the Highest Bidder", 
20 August. https://mfmr.gov.na/ja/downloads/ -
/document_library/DWqND60MzhTr/view_file/683229?_com_liferay_document_library_web_portlet _DLPortlet_
INSTANCE_DWqND60MzhTr_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmfmr.gov.na%2Fja%2Fdownloads%2F -
%2Fdocument_library%2FDWqND60MzhTr%2Fview%2F1161936 . 
130 National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported a nd Unregulated Fishing. 
Viewed  at: https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nam165163.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 257 - 
 
  • Quota fees: The quota fees for allocated fishing quot as are structured to encourage 
Namibian registration and ownership of fishing vessels and to promote onshore processing. 
Fees are lowest for Namibian vessels131, higher for Namibian -based vessels132, and highest 
for foreign -based vessels. Fees range from NAD  40 per tonne (for horse mackerel 
allocated to Namibian vessels) to NAD  14,000 (for rock lobster allocated to foreign -flagged 
vessels). The fees are paid directly into the State Revenue Fund through electronic 
transfer.  
• By-catch fees: All by -catch must be landed. Fees are calculated to discourage excessive 
by-catch and are payable on the catch of non -targeted species.  
• Vessel licence fees: The licence fees range from NAD  20 to NAD  1,000 (for vessels with a 
tonnage of 9,000  tonnes and above).  
• Marine Resource Fund levy: The levy is collected by the MFMR to fund research activities 
and training for Ministry staff members.  
• Fisheries Observer Fund levy: The levy collected by the Fisheries Observer Agency serves 
to monitor fishing activities at sea133 and is payable  by fishing right holders at 0.9%  of the 
landed value of the species of each catch.134 
4.40.   The fish processing industry benefits from tariff protection. MFN tariffs for fish and fish 
products average 7.1% with a range from zero to 30% and 20.6% of the tariff lines (389) subject 
to non -ad valorem  tariffs (Main Report, Section  3.3.1).  
4.41.   In order to encourage local processing, the MFMR introduced a requirement under the 
2014 quota allocation that 2% of the TAC for horse mackerel be directed to the local hors e mackerel 
cannery. The current target for local processing of horse mackerel is 40%. However, only about 
30,000  tonnes have been used annually for value addition through onshore processing. This has 
resulted in the development of new products such as onsh ore dried fish and canned horse mackerel, 
and onshore job creation. There are 34  approved fish processing facilities in Namibia.  
4.42.   Mariculture mainly focuses on molluscan shellfish (oysters and abalone). The subsector 
employs about 180  people and produced ab out 42  tonnes, of which 270.6  tonnes (oysters and 
abalone) were exported in 2021/22, valued at about NAD 20 million. The main export markets were 
China; Hong  Kong,  China; the Russian  Federation; and South  Africa. The Ministry is in the process 
of developin g the shellfish sanitation regulations to enable the aquaculture industry to export to the 
European  Union.  
4.3  Mining and energy  
4.3.1   Mining  
4.43.   The mining and quarrying sector is Namibia's leading economic sector, contributing about 
11% to GDP (Table  1.1) and providin g about 15,000  jobs.135 Although mines were allowed to operate 
during the COVID -19 pandemic, the sector experienced a 15%  contraction in 2020. In 2021, the 
sector was the main driver of Namibia's economic recovery, as normal mining operations resumed 
(up 13 .6%). Exports of ores and minerals account for over half of total merchandise exports (55% 
in 2021) (Chart  1.1 and Table  4.5). 
4.44.   Namibia produces metal ores such as uranium ore, iron ore, copper ore, zinc, gold, lead, 
manganese, tin, marble, and granite, as well as a host of semi -precious stones and diamonds. The 
 
131 Registered in Namibia with at least 51% beneficial ownership and at least 90% Namibian crew 
(recently increased from 80%).  
132 Namibian registered but not domestically majority -owned and with a crew of less than 
90% Namibians.  
133 Fisheries Observer Agency (FOA), About Us – Our Operations . Viewed  at: https://foa.com.na/what -
we-do/. 
134 FOA, Funding of the FOA . Viewed  at: https://foa.com.na/funding -of-the-foa/. 
135 Chamber of Mines of Namibia, 2021 Annual Review . Viewed  at: https://chamberofmines.org.na/wp -
content/uploads/2022/04/2021 -Chamber -of-Mines -Annual -Review.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 258 - 
 
  largest mining companies (in terms of revenue) include Namdeb Holdings (diamonds), Swakop 
Uranium, Rössing  Mine (uranium), and B2Gold Namibia.136 Namibia is a new source country for 
critical minerals for renewable energy technologies, such as cobalt, graphite, rare earths, and 
lithium.  
4.45.   The Ministry of Mines and Energy  (MME) is responsible for mineral policy and regulation of 
the sector. Namibia's mining policy dates from 2000.137 Namibia adopted a Mineral Beneficiation 
Strategy in 2021 to raise the level of local beneficiation, which is currently limited to only a few 
minerals, especially diamond processing.138 The Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act,  1992 is 
under review.  
4.46.   In acc ordance with the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act, all mineral rights are vested in 
the State.139 The Department of Mines of the MME receives and processes applications for mineral 
rights. These rights include non -exclusive prospecting licences, exclusive prospecting 
licences  (EPLs), reconnaissance licences, mining claims, mineral deposit retention li cences, and 
mining licences. The Department of Diamond Affairs deals with upstream diamond licences as 
provided for under the Diamond Act, 1999. In 2021, the MME introduced a mandatory 15% 
shareholding retention by Namibians upon transfer of existing EPLs originally granted to Namibians. 
The suspension of the issuance of new mineral licences, introduced in December  2020, was lifted in 
August  2021.  
4.47.   Epangelo Mining Company (Pty) Ltd. is a 100% SOE with the mandate to, inter alia, acquire 
EPLs for exploration;  acquire mining rights and develop these into fully operational mines; acquire 
equity in existing operational mines; enter into business partnerships that focus on empowerment 
of the Namibian people and to engage in mineral processing; and facilitate the t rading of minerals.140 
Epangelo has been loss -making and dependent on subsidies; it has never paid corporate income tax 
or dividends to the Government (Table  3.2). 
4.48.   Namibia produces the world's highest quality diamonds from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean 
(marine diamonds) as well as from onshore operations.  The main diamond mining company is 
Namdeb Holdings, a 50:50 joint  venture between the Government and De Beers.141 Its diamond 
production is sorted, valued, and marketed by the Namibia Diamond Trading Compa ny (NDTC), 
which is another 50:50 Government -De Beers joint venture. Under a 10 -year agreement (signed 
in 2016) between De Beers and the Government, the NDTC makes available 85% of the cuttable 
diamonds to sightholders142 and 15% to an independent sales com pany called Namib Desert 
Diamonds  (NAMDIA). The state -owned NAMDIA was established in 2016 to improve the discovery 
of the fair market value of diamonds outside the De Beers marketing channel.143 Under the marketing 
agreement, rough diamonds worth USD  430 million are to be made available for local beneficiation. 
Virtually all enterprises engaged in diamond cutting and processing are located in Namibia's export 
processing zones  (EPZs) (Section  3.2.4.2).  
4.49.   Corporate tax rates are 37.5% (non -diamond mining) and 5 5% (diamonds). According to the 
Minerals Act (as amended in 2008), royalties are set at 3% on precious metals, 3% on base and 
rare metals, 2% on semi -precious stones, 3% on nuclear fuel materials, 2% on industrial minerals, 
2% on non -nuclear fuel minerals,  5% on unprocessed dimension stones, and 10% on rough and 
 
136 Chamber of Mines of Namibia, 2021 Annual Review . 
137 Ministry of Mines and Energy, Minerals Policy of N amibia . Viewed  at: 
https://chamberofmines.org.na/wp -content/uploads/2020/07/Minerals_Policy_Final.pdf . 
138 MIT, Mineral Benefi ciation Strategy for Namibia 2021 . Viewed  at: https://mit.gov.na/policies/ -
/document_library/arcd/view_file/981728?_com_liferay_document_library_web_portlet_DLPortlet_INSTANCE_
arcd_re direct=https%3A%2F%2Fmit.gov.na%2Fpolicies%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_document_library_web_p
ortlet_DLPortlet_INSTANCE_arcd%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview . 
139 Chamber of Mines of Namibia, Legislation & Policy . Viewed  at: 
https://chamberofmines.org.na/legislation -policy/ . 
140 Epangelo Mining Company, Integrated Annua l Report2016 -2017 and 2017 -2018. Viewed  at: 
https://www.epangelomining.na/2016 -2017-and-2017-2018-integrated -annual -report.html . 
141 Namdeb Holdings control 100% of the share capital of Namdeb Diamond Corporation (land -based 
diamonds) and Debmarine Namibia (marine diamonds).  
142 "Sights" or weekly sales in London to De  Beers' clients.  
143 De Beers (2016), " Namibia and De  Beers Sig n Milestone 10 -year Rough Diamond Sales Agreement", 
16 May. Viewed  at: https://www.debeersgroup.com/media/compan y-news/archive/namibia -and-de-beers -
sign-milestone -10-year-rough -diamond -sales-agreement . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 259 - 
 
  uncut diamonds.144 Royalties contribute about 5% -8% to government revenues (NAD  1.6 billion 
in 2021). 
4.50.   Under the Export Levy Act,  2016, Namibia introduced export taxes on a range of products, 
includin g minerals (Section  3.2.2). The mineral levies range up to 15%, with certain preferential 
rates granted for exports to the European  Union (e.g.  2% instead of 15% on dimension stones).145 
Export levies on diamonds range from 0.5% (cut and polished) to 2% (un sorted rough diamonds). 
Mineral export tax collections amounted to NAD  231.7  million in 2021.146 All exports require mineral 
export permits from the MME. For exports of rough diamonds, a Kimberley Process Certificate is 
required.  
Table  4.4 Exports of ores and minerals, 2014 -22 
(NAD  million, %)   
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Total mining 
exports  
(NAD million)  22,184  23,013  26,772  27,162  31,482  31,804  30,998  29,318  37,689  
Metal ores  10.5 17.4 22.8 20.5 17.2 20.1 24.4 26.7 23.3 
Uranium ores  20.7 16.2 13.6 17.2 27.3 28.8 36.9 35.5 29.9 
Diamonds  46.5 48.6 38.7 35.9 35.0 29.4 22.8 28.6 38.3 
Copper  4.8 6.5 11.2 11.0 9.9 10.4 11.1 6.0 5.1 
Zinc refined  13.4 8.5 10.8 12.6 8.1 8.5 2.2 0.0 0.0 
Other minerals  4.0 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.7 2.5 3.2 3.3 
Source:  Chamber of Mines of Namibia, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Annual Reviews . Viewed  at: 
https://chamberofmines.org.na/annual -reviews/ . 
4.3.2   Oil and natural gas  
4.51.   Namibia's offshore reserves of oil and natural gas are still under exploration. So far, the only 
commercially established exploitable discovery is the Ku du Gas Field located 130  km offshore. 
Three  new discoveries have been made since February  2023.147 
4.52.   Upstream petroleum licences (reconnaissance, exploration, and production) are administered 
and regulated through the office of the Petroleum Commissioner of t he MME. Namibia has an open 
licensing system without bidding. To date, 37  exploration licences, 1  production licence, and 
2 reconnaissance licences have been issued to Namibian and international oil companies.  
4.53.   For local content, the obligation for the sour cing of Namibian goods and services is 
encompassed in the petroleum agreement signed with licence holders. The Ministry has issued a 
draft Petroleum Upstream Local Content Policy (currently under stakeholder consultation), which 
prescribes the government o bjectives for local content.  
4.54.   Under the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act,  1991, the state -owned National 
Petroleum Company of Namibia  (NAMCOR) has the non -exclusive right to carry out reconnaissance, 
exploration, and production operations either o n its own or in partnerships/joint ventures. All 
upstream petroleum licences require a minimum of 10% minority stake held by NAMCOR. Under a 
25-year production licence, NAMCOR, together with BW Energy, is in the process of developing parts 
of the Kudu Gas Field for use of the natural gas to generate electricity in partnership with the national 
power utility NamPower.  
4.55.   All petroleum products are imported. The transportation, storage, marketing, and distribution 
of petroleum products (petrol and diesel) are re gulated by the Petroleum Products and Energy 
Act, 1990 and the Petroleum Products Regulations,  2000. NAMCOR acts as the operational arm of 
the Government in the market. With regards to importation, marketing, and distribution of petroleum 
products, NAMCOR participates in fuel supply on an equal footing with the private sector 
(Puma  Energy, Engen, Vivo Energy, and Total). In 2019, the Namibian Competition Commission 
rejected NAMCOR's application to supply 50% of Namibia's petroleum imports (its exclusive man date 
 
144 See also Chamber of Mines of Namibia, Mining Tax Regime . Viewed  at: 
https://chamberofmines.org.na/mining -tax-regime/ . 
145 Export Levy Act, 2016. Viewed  at: https://namiblii.org/akn/na/act/2016/2/eng%402020 -11-30. 
146 Chamber of Mines of Namibia, 2021 Annual Review .  
147 The Graff, Venus, and Jonker wells, located in the ultra -deep water section of the Orange basin.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 260 - 
 
  was revoked in 2011).148 NAMCOR has an equity stake in three inland storage depots and was 
mandated by the Government to build and operate a new National Oil Storage Facility with a capacity 
of 75 million litres (operational since February  2021). This facility serves to ensure national security 
of fuel supplies for 30 to 45  days.  
4.3.3   Electricity  
4.56.   Namibia is highly dependent on imports of electricity (about 60% -80% of the electricity 
supply, Table  4.6).149 The country has significant solar and wind power potential.150 However, as 
of 2022, renewables (excluding hydropower) contributed only 9% to the electricity mix. Access to 
electricity, particularly in rural areas, remains a challenge. Namibia has not been shielded from 
power shortages occurring in South  Africa. When South  Africa undergoes load shedding, Namibia's 
power supply is reduced proportionately, forcing Namibia to seek alternate, often costlier, short -term 
power solutions. Droughts in the region hav e further affected electricity availability from hydropower 
sources in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.  
4.57.   Namibia does not have a specific policy for nuclear fuel, although it is a large producer and 
exporter of uranium concentrate. According to the authori ties, it may explore the feasibility of a 
small or modular nuclear power programme as a future component of its energy mix. Namibia is a 
signatory to several international treaties and agreements concerning nuclear materials and 
non-proliferation.  
4.58.   In 2017, Namibia revised its National Energy Policy (replacing the 1998 policy) and introduced 
a new National Renewable Energy Policy. The electricity sector is regulated by the Electricity Control 
Board  (ECB) under the Electricity Act,  2007. The ECB has the manda te to exercise control over 
electricity generation, transmission, distribution, supply, and import s/export s by setting tariffs and 
issuing licences (subject to approval by the MME). A draft Namibian Energy Regulatory Authority Bill 
is currently in the legi slative pipeline with the aim of establishing a unified sector regulator.  
4.59.   NamPower is the public utility responsible for electricity generation, transmission, 
imports/exports, and trading in electricity under the Electricity Act,  2007. NamPower owns and 
manages four power plants with a total installed capacity of 509.5  MW.151 Several generation 
projects are in progress.  
4.60.   Namibia's electricity generation sector is open to participation from the private sector, 
including foreign investors. Currently, renewable energy capacity, particularly solar PV and wind 
power, totals 131.5  MW, contracted under power purchase agreements with NamPower for 25  years. 
Of this, 70  MW has been procured through independent power producers  (IPPs) under the 
Renewable Energy Feed -in Tariff (REFiT) Programme launched in 2015.152 The ECB administers a 
feed-in tariff regime for installations ranging from 500  kW and above, and regulates  power purchase 
agreement s for IPPs selling power to the national grid.  
4.61.   In December  2022, a Modified Single  Buyer  (MSB) market model was introduced, replacing 
NamPower's conventional single buyer role. Since  2019, the MSB market ha d been operating under 
Cabinet approved draft MSB Rules, which allow customers to procure up to 30% of their annual 
energy demand from IPPs.  
 
148 Government Ga zette (2019), No.  6838, 4  February. Viewed  at: 
http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2019/6838.pdf . 
149 Subject to seasonal variations and the operational status of the country's largest hydroelectric plant, 
the Ruacana Hydropower Station.  
150 Namibia has one of the world's highest solar irradiation regimes. National Renewable Energy Policy. 
Viewed  at: https://www.climate -laws.org/geographies/namibia/policies/national -renewable -energy -policy . 
151 These consist of one  hydropower plant (Ruacana with a capacity of 347  MW), one  liquid fuel plant 
(Anixas with a capacity of 22.5  MW), one  coal-fired plant (Van Eck with a potential capacity of 120  MW), and 
the Omburu  Solar PV Power  Stations (20  MW). NamPower, Integrated Annual Report 2022 . Viewed  at: 
https://www.nampower.com.na/public/docs/annual -
reports/NamPower_2022%20Annual%20Report_210223.pdf . 
152 The renewable capacity includes the 4.5  MW Innosun Omburu S olar PV Plant, two  GreeNam Solar PV 
Plants (situated adjacent to the Kokerboom and Hardap substations) each contributing 10  MW, and the 37  MW 
Alten Hardap Solar PV Plant.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 261 - 
 
  4.62.   NamPower owns and operates the transmission system as a statutory monopoly and has 
exclusive rights to trade and imp ort/export electricity. Most electricity imports are sourced through 
long-term power purchase agreement s with utilities like ESKOM from South  Africa, ZESCO from 
Zambia, and ZPC from Zimbabwe, while some is sourced through the Short -Term Energy Market of 
the Southern African Power Pool  (SAPP). A major transmission project in the works since 2008 
includes the ZIZABONA transmission facility linking Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia. 
Namibia's electricity distribution network is primarily composed of NamP ower and four Regional 
Electricity Distributors  (REDs).  
4.63.   Electricity prices in Namibia are relatively high compared to those in other SADC members, 
partly due to the cost -reflective tariff structure applied by the ECB. Cross -subsidies among 
NamPower generat ion plants are subject to approval by the regulator. NamPower is a profit -making 
SOE normally paying out dividends to the Government and taxes (it incurred a loss in 2022) 
(Table  3.2). 
Table  4.5 Namibia's elec tricity sources, FY2014 -22 
 2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Total  (GWh)  
of which in %  3,872  3,846  3,912  4,019  4,272  4,054  4,479  4,169  4,067  
NamPower  38.7 40.0 36.3 41.4 27.3 24.8 35.0 24.2 20.1 
ESKOM  11.1 9.4 34.8 36.8 33.6 31.1 31.4 35.2 30.8 
ZPC 26.3 23.7 10.3 8.7 8.4 6.9 8.1 9.6 9.6 
ZESCO  10.8 11.0 8.5 8.7 8.4 8.0 10.9 19.1 24.2 
Other imports  13.1 15.9 9.7 3.4 19.4 22.6 6.9 3.2 6.3 
IPPs 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.0 2.9 6.6 7.7 8.6 9.0 
Source:  ECB. 
4.4  Manufacturing  
4.64.   The manufacturing sector contributes about 12% to GDP (Table  1.1). The sector experienced 
a sharp contraction in 2020 due to pandemic -related lockdowns (down 17.1%), but overall has been 
able to maintain its share in the economy. The largest subsectors are  the food, milling, and beverage 
industries, followed by the diamond processing industry.  
4.65.   The MIT has developed the Industrial Policy, 2017153, which  complements the Growth at Home 
Strategy154 with the objective to become a high -income industrialized country by  2030. Key 
instruments of Namibia's industrial policy regime are currently under review. All three manufacturing 
incentives schemes155 (EPZ incentives, special tax incentives for exporters  of manufactured 
products, and the registered manufacturers scheme) were repealed in  2020 
(Sections  3.2.4.2  and 3.3.1). An SEZ policy and the investment -related legislation (Namibia 
Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act  (NIPA) and National Equitable Ec onomic Empowerment 
Bill) remain pending (Section  2.4). The National Policy on MSMEs , 2016-21, which replaces the SME 
policy of 1997156, is currently under review.  
4.66.   Measures in support of the manufacturing sector include:  
 
153 MIT, Namibia's Industrial Policy . Viewed  at: https://mit.gov.na/policies/ -
/document_library/arcd/view_file/62547 . 
154 Ministry of Trade and Industry, "Growth at Home": A Strategy for Industrial Development . 
Viewed  at: https://mit.gov.na/documents/41692/64347/Growth+at+Home+ML_Pamphlet.pdf/6e818006 -
96d2-af9a-fc01-f68b73a8366d?t=16036983225 85. 
155 Office of the President (2017), Manufacturing Sector in Namibia . Viewed  at: 
https://www.npc.gov.na/wp -content/uploads/2022/02/Manufacturing -paper -Nov_2017.pdf . 
156 Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade an d SME Development (2016), National Policy on Micro, Small and 
Medium Enterprises in Namibia, 2016 -2021. Viewed  at: 
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjG5 ebC2Oz9AhW0gv0H
HfNsBkoQFnoECA4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmit.gov.na%2Fdocuments%2F41692%2F88507%2FMSME%2B
policy%2Bfinal.pdf%2F2094d938 -c397-0813-e997-
91d95a84c6da%3Ft%3D1603782832841%26download%3Dtrue&usg=AOvVaw3QP_bnmiPV1Ik9vY0TVcET . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 262 - 
 
  • Namibia Industrial Development Agency  (NIDA): The NIDA was established in 2018 under 
the MIT to advance the industrialization agenda.157 The agency is currently responsible for 
administering and servicing the EPZs (Section  3.2.4.2). NIDA plans to make infrastructure 
and other investments in th e future SEZs158.  
• Special Industrialization Initiative: The scheme is intended to enhance economic growth 
through investment in priority sectors.159 To date, a biomass industrial park at Otjiwarongo 
has been completed, and a project agreement has been reached for private sector 
investment in a beef cold storage facility at Walvis Bay.  
• Under the Business Support Services Programme, SMEs are assisted th rough feasibility 
studies (80% of the cost is covered by the MIT); business plan development (fully funded); 
environmental impact assessments (80% of the cost is covered by the Ministry); 
enhancement of business skills through training (fully  funded); and assistance in providing 
an SME recognition certificate for tender purposes. The Entrepreneurship Development 
Programme provides SMEs with production machinery and equipment that are 70% -80% 
funded by the Ministry. Under the Sites and Premises Programme, in dustrial premises are 
constructed at a cost covered by the Ministry, then leased at lower prices by the NIDA.160 
4.67.   Tariff protection in the manufacturing sector (ISIC 3) averages 8.9% in 2023 (Main  Report, 
Table  A3.1). The highest MFN rates are applied, on av erage, to imports of clothing and textiles.  
4.5  Services  
4.5.1   Financial services  
4.5.1.1   Banking services  
4.68.   The Bank of Namibia  (BoN) is responsible for bank regulation and supervision, subject to 
regular consultation with the MFPE. A new Bank of Namibia Act entered into for ce in 2020, which 
strengthens the Central Bank's responsibility for macro -prudential oversight through a coordinating 
role in safeguarding financial stability and enhances the Monetary Policy and the Financial Stability 
Committees.161 
4.69.   The principal law, the  Banking Institutions Act,  1998 (as amended in 2010) is currently under 
review. The regulatory framework also comprises the Payment System Management Act,  2003 (as 
amended); the Financial Intelligence Act,  2012 regarding the supervision of AML/CFT/CPF162 by the 
Financial Intelligence Centre of Namibia; and the Currency and Exchanges Act,  1933 (as amended).  
4.70.   At present, the banking system comprises seven  commercial banks (First National Bank of 
Namibia, Standard Bank of Namibia, Nedbank Namibia, Bank Windhoek,  Letshego Bank, Trustco 
Bank Namibia, and Bank BIC), one  branch of a foreign bank (Banco Atlantico), and 
one representative office (ABSA Representative Office). The BoN has also licensed two  credit 
bureaux. Namibia has three state -owned banks (Agribank, De velopment Bank of Namibia, and Post 
Office Savings Bank).163 The three  institutions have been established by separate legislation.  
 
157 Namibia Industrial Development Agency Act  16 of 2016). Viewed  at: https://www.nida.com.na/ . 
NIDA is classified as a commercial SOE, but no information is available regardi ng its financial performance 
(Table  3.2). 
158 NIDA, NIDA Flagship Interventions 2020 -2025. Viewed  at: https://www.nida.com.na/nida -flagship -
interventions/ . 
159 MIT, Annual Report 2021/22 . Viewed  at: 
https://mit.gov.na/documents/41692/109418/Annual+Report+2021 -2022.pdf/d592efb 5-123c-07cd-df02-
24d65c63f989?t=1654157589822 . 
160 MIT. Viewed  at: https://mit.gov.na/industrial -development . 
161 The new Act repeals the Bank of Namibia Act  15 of 1997 and the Bank of Namibia Amendment 
Act 11 of 2004. BoN, Bank of Namibia Act 1 of 2020 . Viewed  at: https://www.bon.com.na/Regulations/Bank -
of-Namibia -Act-2020.aspx . 
162 Anti-money Laundering / Combating the Financing of Terrorism / Combating Proliferation Financing.  
163 SME Bank ceased operations in 2017.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 263 - 
 
  4.71.   The banking sector has been stable, profitable, and resilient to the economic shock of the 
pandemic, with the level of non -performing loans at 5.6% being  below the Central Bank's benchmark 
of 6%.164 
4.72.   Basel  III capital standards have been applied since 2018 to four Domestic Systemically 
Important Banks, namely First National Bank of Namibia, Bank Windhoek, Standard Bank of 
Namibia, and Nedbank Namibia, which together held 97% of the total banking assets 
(NAD  164.4  billion at end -December  2022). The other banks are supervised on Basel  II standards.  
4.73.   The BoN licensing and prudential requirements for foreign banks are stipulated in section  11 
of the Banking Institutions Act,  1998 (as amended) and concern capital requirements165, viable 
business plan, fitness of shareholders and directors, clear ownership structure, financial history of 
the applicant, and whether the gran ting of the application for authorization is in the economic 
interest of Namibia. Licensing requirements for a foreign bank branch are stipulated in the BoN 
Determination on Branches of Foreign Banking Institutions.  
4.74.   Bank clients may seek recourse against b anking fees. In November  2020, the BoN issued a 
determination  (BID-13) that aims to extend consumer protection with the enforcement of the 
disclosure and transparency of fees, charges, and commissions in relation to banking products 
offered and services re ndered. The Namibia Deposit Guarantee Authority, operational since 
April 2021, has established a new deposit guarantee scheme pursuant to the Deposit Guarantee 
Act, 2018.  
4.5.1.2   Insurance services  
4.75.   The insurance industry is regulated by the Namibia Financial Insti tutions Supervisory 
Authority  (NAMFISA).166 Altogether, 649  financial  institutions and 12,272  financial  intermediaries 
with a total asset value of NAD  366 billion were under NAMFISA's oversight in 2022.167 NAMFISA is 
a member of the International Association  of Insurance Supervisors  (IAIS) and SADC's Committee 
of Insurance, Securities and Non -Banking Authorities  (CISNA).  
4.76.   At present, the insurance industry comprises 14  short-term and 14  long-term insurers, 
1 composite  reinsurer, and 12,242  intermediaries. In t erms of market size, the total assets of 
long-term insurers amounted to NAD  69 billion, while short -term insurers totalled NAD  7.2 billion 
(31 December  2022). The top three systemic entities held more than 80% of the market share. The 
2020 and 2021 gross w ritten premiums reduction reflects COVID -19 pandemic -related restrictions 
(Table  4.7). 
4.77.   According to the authorities, the current regulatory framework has several weaknesses, 
including an outdated legislative framework, reliance on a compliance -driven appro ach to 
supervision, inadequate supervisory and enforcement powers, inadequate support for innovation, 
and lack of consumer recourse mechanisms.168 In response, the NAMFISA Act,  2021 and the 
Financial Institutions and Markets Act  (FIMA), 2021 were passed by Parliament and signed by the 
President in 2021. The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises is to determine when this legislation 
will be implemented by way of a notice in the Official Gazette. The FIMA, inter alia, addresses the 
requirements for risk -weighted capital by insurers; introduces the concept of micro -insurance, gap 
 
164 BoN, Annual Reports . Viewed  at: https://www.bon.com.na/Economic -information/Annual -
Reports.aspx . 
165 The minimum capital requirement to establish a bank in Namibia is determined by the BoN on the 
basis of the risk -weighted assets, and the size and complexity of the proposed bank's business model and 
infrastructure; it may not amount to less than 10% of risk -weighted assets.  
166 NAMFISA regulates and supervises the non -banking financial sector, including insurance services and 
insurance brokers/agents; asset management; unit trusts (collective investment schemes); pension funds;  
medical aid funds; public accountants and auditors;  moneylenders; and the Namibian Stock Exchange and 
stockbrokers.  
167 NAMFISA, Annual Report 2022 . Viewed  at: https://www.namfisa.com.na/wp -
content/uploads/2022/10/NAMFISA -Annual -Report -2022.pdf . 
168 A Financial Services Adjudicator Bi ll is pending that would create a complaints adjudicator for clients 
of banks and non -bank financial institutions. The adjudicator's determinations would carry the same weight as 
civil judg ements by a court of law. Ministry of Finance, Financial Services A djudicator Bill,  2018. Viewed  at: 
https://www.parliament.na/wp -content/uploads/2021/08/Hon -Calle-Schlettwein -Financial -Services-
Adjudicator -Bill-2018.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 264 - 
 
  insurance, and cell captive insurance; redefines remuneration of brokers and agents; introduces fit 
and proper requirements; and addresses market conduct. Once implemented, capital  requirements 
will increase, and a risk -weighted solvency regime will be applied. NAMFISA also foresees that 
micro -insurance will widen the scope of insurance cover, once the FIMA is operationalized.  
4.78.   The licensing requirements are listed under section  10 of the FIMA. For a foreign insurer to 
operate in Namibia, full licensing requirements must be met, including registration as a public 
company in Namibia, and paid -up capital ranging from NAD  2 million -NAD 12 million, depending on 
the number of insurance cla sses to be registered. There are no foreign investment restrictions.  
4.79.   The current regulatory framework prohibits Namibian insurers from varying policies so that 
they become payable in a currency other than the Namibian dollar, or become payable outside 
Namibia, unless prior approval is obtained from the Registrar of Short -term/Long -term Insurance. 
Similarly, foreign insurers are allowed to cover Namibian risks provided prior approval has been 
obtained from the Registrar. The value of foreign insurance exempt ions amounted to 
NAD 484.7  million (gross written premiums) in 2022. 
4.80.   The state -owned Namibia National Reinsurance Corporation  (NamibRe) has the mandate to 
provide reinsurance services and minimize the placement of insurance and reinsurance business 
abroad. Accordingly, NamibRe is authorized to collect a compulsory 12.5% share of new pure risk 
policies  (with certain exceptions) . In addition, insurers and reinsurers must cede 20% of their 
reinsurance business to NamibRe. Thus, NamibRe has the first rig ht to accept or refuse an insurer's 
ceded risk to a maximum of 20% and the remainder is placed with foreign reinsurers.  
Table  4.6 Gross insurance premiums, 2014 -22 
(NAD  billion)  
 2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Long-term insurance  7,433.2  7,350.1  7,703.7  9,075.6  5,358.7  11,641.0  9,480.0  10,945.3  11,013.3  
Short -term insurance  3,338.3  3,493.5  3,522.0  3,714.1  3,788.1  3,673.5  3,485.7  3,741.3  4,115.5  
Source:  NAMFISA.  
4.5.2   Telecommunication s services  
4.81.   The ICT sector contributes about 1.7% to GDP (Table  1.1). Namibia has a penetration rate of 
over 100% for mobile telephony and benefits from mobile coverage in most towns and road coverage 
along virtually all the major routes. W hile 79% of the population had access in 2020 to 4G  Internet 
at home via mobile or fixed devices169, affordability remains a challenge. Namibia is one of the most 
expensive countries in Africa for mobile broadband services.170 
4.82.   According to the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia  (CRAN), which regulates 
telecom, broadcasting, and postal services, Namibia's telecom subsector suffers from insufficient 
competition in a market that is dominated by SOEs : "Namibia lost its l eading role in Africa as a result 
of state -driven consolidation in the sector and the significant reduction in competition. All 
telecommunication (broadband, voice and SMS) prices are high and broadband download speeds 
are low in comparison to other SADC c ountries. Namibia can regain its position but needs to 
restructure the sector and investigate ways to attract private sector investment and to improve the 
level of competition".171 Despite a policy and regulatory framework that long professed to promote 
competition in the telecom sector (Communications Act,  2009, Chapter  1)172, Namibia has ended up 
with a virtual state -owned monopoly in mobile telephony.  
4.83.   Among the mobile network operators (Telecom Namibia, Mobile Telecommunications  Namibia 
(MTC), and Paratus  Namibia ), the mobile infrastructure is 97% owned by  the state-owned  Telecom 
Namibia and MTC. MTC's market share is close to 100% for both voice and SMS traffic. Telecom 
Namibia in 2014 acquired Leo (Powercom), a private company that leases ICT infrastructu re to other 
 
169 CRAN, Market Report 2020 . Viewed  at: https://w ww.cran.na/yglilidy/2022/03/CRAN -Presentation -
Market -Report -Universal -Service -Data-Study -2020-Termination -Rates.pdf . 
170 CRAN (2022), Telecommunication Sector Market Report 2020/2021 . Viewed  at: 
https://www.cran.na/yglilidy/2022/12/Market -Report -Final-2021.pdf . 
171 CRAN (2022), Telecommunication Sector Market Report 2020/2021 , p. 20.  
172 Communications Act  8 of 2009. Viewed  at: 
http://www.lac.org.na/laws/annoSTAT/Communications%20Act%208%20of%202009.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 265 - 
 
  service providers. In the same year, a new market entrant, Paratus, began offering fixed voice 
services using VoIP technology and is now offering fixed and mobile 4G  Internet access, among 
other services.  
4.84.   The MICT is responsible for formulating  telecommunications policies, including the 
Information Technology Policy  (2008), Telecommunications Policy  (2009), Postal Policy  (2009), 
Universal Access and Service Policy for ICT  (2012), Digital Terrestrial Television Policy 
Guidelines  (2013), and Natio nal Broadband Policy  (2019).  
4.85.   CRAN's responsibilities include the granting of licences, regulation of interconnection tariffs, 
implementation of a transparent and fair pricing regime that facilitates competition on a wide variety 
of services, and managing t he Universal Service Fund. Tariffs for all telecom services are subject 
approval by CRAN.  
4.5.3   Transport services  
4.86.   The Ministry of Works and Transport  (MWT) has developed a new Transport Policy 2018 -35, 
which  addresses the partially outdated regulatory framework , especially in the area of maritime and 
rail transport.173 Several transport -related legislative bills are pending. Namibia also completed a 
Master Plan in 2015 for the International Logistics Hub for SADC Countries in Namibia.  
4.87.   Namibia has become a net-exporter of transport services in recent years (Table  1.2). While 
maritime transport dominates for exports, road transport dominates for imports of goods, reflecting 
Namibia's trade deficit with South  Africa. The port of Walvis Bay is one of the main g ateways to 
Africa.  
4.5.3.1   Maritime transport  
4.88.   Namibia is a member of the International Maritime Organization, and party to the 
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea  (SOLAS); the International Convention for the 
Prevention of Pollution from Ships  (MARPOL); the International Convention on Standards for 
Training, Certification and Watch -keeping for Seafarers  (STCW); the Maritime Labour 
Convention  (MLC); and the Port State Control  (PSC) system.  
4.89.   The Directorate of Maritime Affairs  (DMA) of the MWT is re sponsible for implementing 
Namibia's obligations as flag, port, and coastal state, but is facing capacity challenges.174 The MWT 
with the assistance of the IMO is currently engaged in a marine administration reform programme 
that involves the establishment of a new Namibian Maritime Authority as regulator and the 
modernization of the maritime legislation (Maritime Authority Bill, Merchant Shipping Bill, and Marine 
Pollution Bill and related regulations).175 
4.90.   There are no restrictions on foreign investment in m aritime freight transport, except 
licensing/registration requirements.176 Namibia is opposed to flag -of-convenience vessels and 
discourages the use of such vessels.177 Namibian  regulations provide that every company registering 
a vessel in Namibia must be a Namibian company, have a place of business in Namibia, or be 
affiliated with a Namibian company with a substantial ownership in that foreign company. The 
national fleet comprises 249 registered vessels, totalling about 26 3,000 gross  tonnes. A number of 
private freight forwarders operate in Namibia's ports. They must meet seaworthiness requirements 
and adhere to customs transit procedures.  
4.91.   Namibia has no cabotage restrictions; all vessels, including foreign ones, can engage in 
cabotage trade without operatio nal permits, but seaworthiness requirements  apply. Foreign vessels 
 
173 Ministr y of Works and Transport, 2018 Namibian Transport Policy . Viewed  at: 
https://www.giz.de/en/downloads/Namibian%20Transport%20Policy_Print.pdf . 
174 Ministry of Works and Transport. Viewed  at: https://mwt.gov.na/services . 
175 Ministry of Works and Transport, 2018 Namibian Transport Policy . Viewed  at: 
https://www.giz.de/en/downloads/Namibian%20Transport%20Policy_Print.pdf . 
176 WTO and World Bank, I-TIP Services . Viewed  at: https://i -
tip.wto.org/services/SearchResultApplied.aspx . 
177 National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. 
Viewed  at: https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nam165163.pdf . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 266 - 
 
  may operate domestic services between the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz without a permit. 
Tariffs for maritime transport services are market -determined.  
4.92.   Namibia's two main ports of Walvi s Bay and Lüderitz are managed and operated by the state -
owned Namibian Ports Authority  (NamPort)178 under a service port model with some exceptions.  
4.93.   The port of Walvis Bay is the largest port with about 3,000  vessel calls each year and handling 
about 5  million tonnes of cargo. The main commodities landed at the port are petroleum, vehicles, 
sulphuric acid, copper/lead, fish products, and cement; the main products shipped include salt, fish 
products, copper/lead and concentrates, and manganese ore. NamPort's  handling of cargo and 
containers increased considerably during the period under review (Table  4.8). 
4.94.   NamPort operates the new container terminal at the port of Walvis Bay, while  the bulk 
terminals, ship repair, and cold storage warehouse management are under concession agreements. 
The tariffs of the concessionaires are subject to approval by NamPort  and annually gazette d in the 
Port and Syncrolift Tariff Book. In 2022, NamPort awarded a concession to the Mediterranean 
Shipping Company  (MSC ) subsidiary Terminal Investment Ltd to operate a new container terminal, 
which expands the port's handling capacity from 350,000  twenty -foot equivalent units  (TEU) to 
750,000  TEUs per year.179 NamPort is also constructing a new marine petroleum offloading facility 
in Walvis Bay. The new tanker berth will be constructed to accommodate larger tanker vessels/fuel 
carriers.  
4.95.   The port of Lüderitz serves the fishing industry and the offshore diamond and petroleum 
industries. Cargos include manganese ore, zinc prod ucts, and fruit (grapes and dates).  
Table  4.7 Freight handling by Namibia's ports, 2014 -22 
('000 tonnes/TEU)  
 2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Cargo  
Landed  3,720 1,958 3,427 3,243 3,619 3,234 3,319 3,470 3,794 
Shipped  1,546 861 1,556 1,727 2,009 2,215 2,532 2,872 3,781 
Transhipped  884 407 573 333 169 112 345 235 117 
Total cargo handled  6,150 3,226 5,556 5,303 5,796 5,562 6,196 6,576 7,692 
Containers  
Landed, TEU  69 30 52 59 65 71 60 69 70 
Shipped, TEU  62 28 49 56 60 65 59 61 67 
Transhipped, TEU  109 59 106 68 25 13 36 38 24 
Total containers handled  240 117 206 183 149 149 156 168 161 
Source:  NamPort.  
4.5.3.2   Air transport  
4.96.   Namibia has adopted the new Civil Aviation Act, 2016, which established the Namibian Civil 
Aviation Authority  (NCAA) as regulator and provider of Air Traffic Navigation Services.180 
4.97.   Namibia is a participant in the Single African Air Transport Market  (SAATM) under the 
Yamoussoukro Decision relating to the liberalizat ion of access to air transport markets in Africa.181 
Namibia favours an open skies policy. Namibia is part of the SAATM members who were chosen to 
implement the SAATM.  
 
178 By virtue of the Namibia Ports Authority Act, 1994 and in terms of the State -Owned Enterprises 
Governance Act, 2006.  
179 Freight News  (2022), "MSC Company Wins Concession to Run Walvis Bay Container Terminal", 
17 Octobe r. Viewed  at: https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/msc -company -wins-concession -run-walvis -bay-
container -terminal . 
180 NCAA, About Us . Viewed  at: http://www.ncaa.com.na/index.php/home/about -us. 
181 IATA, The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) . Viewed  at: 
https://www.iata.org/en/about/worldwide/ame/saatm/ . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 267 - 
 
  4.98.   Namibia has Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) (in force) with Ethiopia, Germany, 
South  Africa , and Qatar. Since the last Review in 2014, Namibia has signed seven  new BASAs and 
seven  MoUs.182 Most foreign carriers have 5th freedom rights.  
4.99.   The national carrier Air Namibia was liquidated on 26  March  2021. There are currently six 
airlines  offering scheduled flights to Namibia, namely Ethiopian Airlines, Airlink, South  African 
Airways, TAAG Angola, Qatar Airways, and Eurowings Discover. Most international passengers have 
to connect through Johannesburg, Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), or Fr ankfurt. Namibia has 
one domestic carrier offering scheduled flights (Fly Namibia).  
4.100.   Namibia's state -owned airports are managed by the Namibia Airports Company  (NAC) . The 
NAC is classified as a commercial SOE, but has been a loss -making enterprise and reliant on 
subsidies in some years (Table  3.2).183 Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek is the 
nation's main gateway, located about 40  km east of the city. The airport caters to all regional and 
intercontinental services, as well as three coastal domestic airports (Walvis Bay, Lüderitz, and 
Oranjemund).  Ground handling services are allocated under licence by the NAC.  
4.5.3.3   Road transport  
4.101.   Namibia's road infrastructure (about 49,000  km) is considered as one of the best in Africa.184 
The country is part of four cross -border road transport corridors in the East and Southern African 
region: the Trans -Kalahari (stretches over 1,900  km along Walvis Bay –Windhoek –Gaborone –
Johannesburg/Pretoria); the Trans -Caprivi (Walvis Bay –Zambia); the Tr ans-Cunene (via Angola to 
the Democratic  Republic  of the Congo); and the Trans -Oranje (via South  Africa to 
SADC  members).185 
4.102.   Namibia is member of the SADC -COMESA -EAC Tripartite Transport & Transit Facilitation 
Programme  (TTTFP). However, it appears that the  lack of an integrated and liberalized road transport 
market in the region "poses numerous obstacles to trade by causing severe delays and increased 
transport costs, as well as challenges to road safety and durability".186 For example, the regulations 
for trucks regarding axle -loads and dimensional limits are only partly harmonized within SACU.187 
Cabotage is prohibited in Namibia (none of the SACU  members allow cabotage), unless the specific 
services cannot be provided locally. Generally, a foreign -registere d truck may enter a load, for 
instance, from Zambia and pick up another load from Namibia to Zambia.  
4.103.   The main road transport laws (Road Transportation Act,  1977 and Road Traffic and Transport 
Act, 1999) require modernization. Several bills are pending. A R oads Bill (dealing with ownership 
and management of the road network) and a Vehicle Mass Bill (dealing with decriminalization of 
overload offences, and harmonization of axle -loads) are harmonized with the SADC Protocol on 
Transport as well as the SADC -EAC-COMESA harmonization principles and are to be submitted to 
Parliament during 2023. A Road Safety Bill is still in the consultation stage.  
4.104.   The national road infrastructure is managed by three SOEs. Construction and maintenance 
fall under the Roads Authority  Namibia.188 The construction of roads is outsourced in a tender  process  
with preference given to Namibian companies with expertise or companies that partner with Namibia 
companies. The preferential treatment of the state -owned Roads Contractor Company expi red in 
March  2015. The Road Fund Administration, established under the MFPE, is responsible for the 
 
182 Angola, Mauritius, Rwanda, South  Africa , Türkiye , Switzerland, and the United  Arab Emirates  
(BASAs); Benin, China, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Kenya, and the United  Kingdom  (MoUs).  
183 Ministry of Works and Transport, 2018 Namibian Transport Policy . 
184 Cross -Border Road Transport Agency, Country Profile for Namibia . Viewed  at: 
https://www.cbrta.co.za/uploads/files/Namibia -Country -Profile -Report.pdf ; and Surface Summaries . Viewed  at: 
https://www.ra.org.na/Documents/RMS%20Notices/Road%20Summary%20Network%2011%20%28%20Lates
t%29.pdf . 
185 TTTFP, All Corridors . Viewed  at: https://tttfp.org/corridors -overview/ . 
186 TTTFP, About TTTFP . Viewed  at: https://tttfp.org/ . 
187 Cross -Border Road Transport Agency, Country Profile for Namibia .  
188 Roads Authority. Viewed  at: https://www.ra.org.na/Pages/index.aspx . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 268 - 
 
  management of the Road User Charging System, which comprises fuel levies (about 60% of the 
receipts of the Road Fund)  and other fees and charges .189 
4.105.   There ar e no restrictions on foreign investment in freight operators, except for licensing. To 
transport goods across borders, foreign operators are required to obtain a cross -border road 
transport permit, which is vehicle and route specific.  
4.106.   Namibia is member of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of 
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. According to the authorities, Namibia has adopted standards 
for the transportation of dangerous goods in accordance with the Basel Convention.  
4.5.3.4   Rail trans port 
4.107.   The railway network comprises 2,382  km of narrow -gauge track. The Trans -Kalahari road 
corridor is supported by a railway line from Walvis Bay to Gobabis (via Windhoek), where 
transhipment facilities are available. The railway remains an important part  of Namibia's transport 
infrastructure for containers and bulk freight such as mining products, liquids, and building materials. 
The railway subsector holds about 15% of the land transport freight market. However, transport 
volumes have been declining (Tab le 4.9). Challenges include ageing locomotives and rolling stock, 
dilapidated railway infrastructure, and outdated equipment.  
4.108.   Under the National Transport Services Holding Company Act,  1998, the state -owned 
TransNamib is the monopoly provider of railway se rvices for passengers and freight. TransNamib 
owns the rolling stock, while the State owns the rail network. Namibia does not have a railway 
regulatory authority.  
Table  4.8 TransNamib cargo and passenger transport, 2014 -22 
Financial year  Cargo ('000 tonnes)  Passengers ('000)  
2014 1,775  80.3 
2015 1,525  67.1 
2016 1,528  55.9 
2017 1,444  50.5 
2018 1,428  35.0 
2019 1,533  31.3 
2020 1,644  31.6 
2021 1,502  5.3 
2022 1,415  0.1 
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
4.5.4   Tourism  
4.109.   The tourism sector is estimated to contribute about 15% to GDP and provides about 
112,000  jobs directly or indirectly (15% of total employment).190 Namibia's core assets are wildlife 
and trophy hunting. Tourist arrivals had increased steadily until the tourism industry was hit by the 
border closures and lockdowns due to the COVID -19 pandemic (Table  4.10). 
4.110.   The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tou rism (MEFT) is responsible for tourism policy, 
while the Namibian Tourism Board  (NTB) is charge of regulating the tourism industry. Namibia has 
adopted a National Tourism Policy  (2008), a National Tourism Investment Profile and Promotion 
Strategy  (2016), a nd a National Sustainable Tourism Growth and Development Strategy  (2016).191 
4.111.   Under its GATS commitments, Namibia has no restrictions related to market access or 
national treatment with respect to any modes of supply for hotels and restaurants or travel agen cies 
 
189 Road Fund Administration, Road User  Charging System . Viewed  at: 
https://www.rfanam.com.na/overview -road-user-charges/ . 
190 A development of tourism satellite account is underway. ECA (2022),  "Namibia Launches National 
Tourism Satellite Account", 19  May. Viewed  at: https://www.uneca.org/stories/namibia -launches -national -
tourism -satellite -account . 
191 Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Policies . Viewed  at: 
https://www.meft.gov.na/policies -legislation/policies/185/ . WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 269 - 
 
  and tour operator services.192 Tourist establishments are required to register with the NTB and pay 
a one -off registration fee.  
4.112.   Tourism services providers are subject to the standard tax rates (32% for corporations). A 
tourism levy of 2% per night appl ies for accommodation and breakfast  (1% on an all -inclusive basis) . 
Table  4.9 International tourist arrivals, 2014 -22 
 
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022a 
Total ('000)  1,320.1  1,387.8  1,469.3  1,499.4  1,557.3  1,596.0  169.6  232.8  423.7   
(% of total international arrivals)  
By origin:          
  
Angola  35.7 32.2 27.2 26.9 31.4 35.3 16.0 0.8 0.0 
Botswana  2.7 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.2 4.2 4.3 4.1 2.9 
France  1.5 1.5 1.6 2.1 2.0 1.8 2.1 3.1 3.5 
Germany  6.5 6.5 8.3 8.2 8.0 6.1 11.6 9.4 5.8 
South  Africa  23.6 25.4 23.3 21.7 19.2 17.3 28.6 47.0 58.1 
Switzerland  1.1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.3 0.8 1.6 2.6 3.1 
United  Kingdom  1.9 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.0 1.7 3.0 1.4 0.5 
United  States  1.6 1.8 1.9 2.1 1.8 1.6 2.5 2.0 1.2 
Zambia  9.5 10.6 13.0 13.0 15.6 14.9 8.5 7.1 4.4 
Zimbabwe  4.6 5.1 5.7 6.0 3.9 4.9 6.2 8.1 7.9 
By mode of travel:          
  
Air 25.8 27.1 29.0 27.2 28.0 42.8 47.1 42.3 .. 
Road 73.5 72.1 69.0 70.7 70.4 54.1 51.5 57.5 .. 
Sea 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 2.4 1.5 0.2 .. 
Other  0.0 0.0 1.3 1.5 1.1 0.7 0.0 0.0 .. 
.. Not available.  
a Estimate.  
Source:  MEFT, Tourist Statistical Reports, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,  and 2020 ; and World Tourism 
Organization (2023), UNWTO Tourism Statistics Database, 145 Key Tourism Statistics . Viewed  at: 
https://www.unwto.org/tourism -statistics/key -tourism -statistics . 
 
192 WTO document GATS/SC/60, 15  April 1994.  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 270 - 
 
  5  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table A1.1 Domestic exports of merchandise by HS section, 2014 -22 
HS section/chapter/  
subheading  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Total domestic exports 
(USD  million)  4,738.4  3,793.5  2,977.1  3,041.4  3,627.8  3,503.6  2,739.3  3,171.4  3,850.8  
 
(% of total)  
1-Live animals and products  17.7 19.9 29.6 30.4 27.4 26.3 25.3 26.9 22.7 
HS 03 Fish and 
crustaceans, molluscs 
and other aquatic 
invertebrates  13.9 14.4 24.0 22.1 20.2 20.1 21.5 22.7 18.7 
HS 0304 Fish fillets 
and other fish meat, 
fresh, chilled or 
frozen.  3.5 4.4 8.4 9.5 9.5 9.2 10.7 10.7 8.7 
HS 0303 Fish, frozen  8.7 8.8 13.7 11.0 9.2 9.1 9.0 10.0 8.1 
HS 01 Live animals  1.5 3.2 2.8 6.3 5.8 4.2 3.0 3.2 2.9 
2-Vegetable products  1.3 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.3 2.7 2.9 2.9 
HS 08 Edible fruit and 
nuts; peel of citrus fruit 
or melons  0.8 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.6 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.2 
HS 07 Edible vegetables 
and certain roots and 
tubers  0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 
3-Fats and oils  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
4-Prepared food, beverages 
and tobacco  5.5 5.5 5.2 3.8 4.1 4.1 3.1 3.4 4.0 
HS 22 Beverages, spirits 
and vinegar  3.2 3.1 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.7 1.4 2.0 2.2 
5-Mineral products  19.2 14.4 15.6 15.8 23.9 26.9 29.5 29.0 30.3 
HS 26 Ores, slag and 
ash 15.6 10.4 11.3 12.8 21.3 23.8 26.2 25.0 24.3 
HS 2612 Uranium or 
thorium ores and 
concentrates.  8.8 7.5 9.2 10.2 18.0 20.3 23.2 22.2 21.1 
HS 2608 Zinc ores 
and concentrates.  1.2 1.4 1.6 2.3 2.9 2.1 2.1 1.9 2.1 
HS 2607 Lead ores 
and concentrates.  0.6 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.5 
HS 27 Mineral fuels  1.8 2.6 2.1 1.0 0.9 1.4 1.2 1.6 3.6 
HS 2710 Petroleum 
oils and oils 
obtained from 
bituminous 
minerals, other than 
crude  1.8 2.6 2.1 1.0 0.9 1.4 1.2 1.5 3.4 
HS 25 Salt; sulphur; 
earths and stone; 
plastering materials, 
lime and cement  1.7 1.4 2.2 2.0 1.7 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.3 
6-Chemicals and products 
thereof  0.7 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 
7-Plastics and rubber  0.8 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 
8-Raw hides and skins; 
leather, furskins and articles 
thereof  0.8 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 
9-Wood, cork, straw  0.7 0.8 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.4 2.2 2.3 2.3 
HS 44 Wood and articles 
of wood; wood charcoal  0.7 0.8 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.4 2.2 2.3 2.3 
10-Pulp of wood; paper and 
paperboard  0.5 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.1 
11-Textiles and textile 
articles  0.5 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
12-Footwear, headgear, etc.  0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
13-Articles of stone, plaster, 
cement  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 
14-Precious stones and 
metals  29.6 35.7 38.4 37.9 30.9 28.3 30.6 31.6 34.9 
HS 71 Precious or semi - 
precious stones, 
precious metals  29.6 35.7 38.4 37.9 30.9 28.3 30.6 31.6 34.9 
HS 7102 Diamonds  27.6 29.3 26.8 24.0 23.0 19.1 16.0 17.6 23.4 
HS 7108 Gold  2.0 6.3 11.6 13.9 7.9 9.3 14.5 13.9 11.4 
15-Base metals and articles 
thereof  12.8 15.0 5.4 7.0 7.6 8.8 5.2 1.7 1.5 WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 271 - 
 
  HS section/chapter/  
subheading  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
HS 74 Copper and 
articles thereof  4.9 10.2 3.4 3.0 2.8 2.8 2.4 0.6 0.6 
16-Machinery, electrical 
equipment  3.9 2.3 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
17-Transport equipment  4.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
18-Precision equipment  0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
19-Arms and ammunition  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
20-Miscellaneous 
manufactured articles  0.9 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
21-Works of art, etc.  0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Other  0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on the data provided by the authorities.  
  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 272 - 
 
  Table  A1.2 Domestic  exports of merchandise by destination, 2014 -22 
 
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Total domestic 
exports 
(USD  million ) 4,738.4  3,793.5  2,977.1  3,041.4  3,627.8  3,503.6  2,739.3  3,171.4  3,850.8  
 
(% of total)  
Americas  7.2 3.3 4.1 3.4 1.1 3.9 4.0 2.2 4.1 
United  States  3.9 1.2 2.1 1.6 0.1 1.0 0.6 0.6 2.0 
Other America  3.3 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.0 2.9 3.4 1.6 2.1 
Canada  2.7 2.0 1.6 1.6 0.6 2.6 2.8 1.5 2.0 
Europe  27.6 27.8 26.7 26.8 27.3 23.7 20.2 21.8 21.0 
EU-27 13.6 15.9 24.4 25.2 25.8 22.1 18.6 20.0 19.8 
Spain  4.9 5.4 8.6 7.7 8.0 8.9 9.5 9.1 7.4 
France  2.2 3.4 5.2 5.7 7.3 3.6 1.4 2.5 4.8 
Netherlands  1.0 1.9 0.9 1.2 1.2 1.6 1.5 1.8 2.0 
Belgium  0.9 0.6 0.5 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.0 2.0 1.6 
Italy 2.4 2.7 4.7 5.7 5.2 4.2 3.1 2.4 1.3 
Germany  1.2 0.9 2.2 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 
Poland  0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4 
EFTA 12.8 10.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.2 
Switzerland  12.8 9.9 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 
Other Europe  1.2 1.8 1.9 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.0 
United  Kingdom  1.1 1.8 1.9 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 0.9 
Commonwealth 
of Independent 
States (CIS)a 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 
Africa  52.1 59.1 61.5 57.1 50.1 48.1 46.9 49.2 49.2 
South  Africa  13.7 20.7 26.0 30.6 24.8 25.7 25.4 25.9 22.3 
Botswana  20.9 26.7 26.1 19.4 18.4 15.3 14.2 14.5 18.4 
Zambia  3.4 4.0 3.1 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.8 3.7 3.5 
Democratic 
Republic of the 
Congo  2.1 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.7 2.1 2.3 2.4 
Mozambique  1.1 0.7 1.7 0.6 0.7 0.8 1.1 1.3 1.1 
Angola  8.6 3.3 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 
Middle East  0.7 0.8 2.0 5.3 4.7 4.2 2.5 3.6 4.3 
United Arab 
Emirates  0.2 0.7 1.9 5.2 4.5 3.9 2.3 3.3 3.3 
Israel  0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.7 
Asia 7.2 5.4 5.6 7.0 15.1 19.9 26.0 22.6 19.7 
China  3.8 3.5 4.1 6.1 13.7 17.5 23.4 21.2 16.9 
Japan  0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 
Other Asia  3.3 1.7 1.3 0.7 1.3 2.2 2.3 1.2 2.6 
India 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.9 
Thailand  0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.5 
Other  5.1 3.6 0.1 0.3 1.6 0.2 0.5 0.6 1.8 
Memo:          
  
EU-28 14.7 17.7 26.3 26.6 27.2 23.5 20.0 21.4 20.7 
SACU  35.2 47.4 52.1 50.0 43.2 41.1 39.6 40.4 40.7 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on the data provided by the authorities.  
  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 273 - 
 
  Table  A1.3 Merchandise imports by HS section, 2014 -22 
HS section/chapter/  
subheading  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Total imports (USD  million ) 8,585.9  7,731.7  7,159.7  6,557.5  6,764.3  6,209.8  4,932.3  6,442.4  7,887.5  
  (% of total)   
1-Live animals and products  1.7 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.4 3.0 3.0 2.7 
2-Vegetable products  2.3 2.5 3.1 2.8 3.0 3.9 3.8 3.4 3.1 
3-Fats and oils  0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.9 
4-Prepared food, beverages and 
tobacco  6.9 7.4 8.0 8.9 9.0 8.9 9.3 8.6 8.1 
HS 22 Beverages, spirits and 
vinegar  2.5 2.4 2.3 2.9 3.1 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.1 
5-Mineral products  9.4 19.1 17.9 19.5 18.9 23.7 24.4 23.2 27.0 
HS 27 Mineral fuels  6.3 14.6 13.8 10.5 13.0 15.1 11.9 13.7 18.5 
HS 2710 Petroleum oils 
and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals, other 
than crude  5.6 13.9 13.2 9.9 12.6 14.5 11.2 13.0 17.4 
HS 26 Ores, slag and ash  2.8 4.3 3.7 8.7 5.4 8.3 11.9 8.6 7.1 
6-Chemicals and products thereof  6.6 7.1 9.0 9.5 9.9 9.4 12.0 11.2 10.7 
HS 28 Inorganic chemicals; 
organic or inorganic 
compounds of precious metals  1.0 0.9 1.1 1.7 1.9 1.1 3.0 2.3 2.6 
HS 2822 Cobalt oxides 
and hydroxides; 
commercial cobalt oxides  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.9 1.2 1.5 
HS 30 Pharmaceutical products  1.8 1.9 2.7 2.2 2.4 2.6 3.1 3.2 2.2 
7-Plastics and rubber  3.2 3.2 3.7 3.9 4.5 5.1 5.5 5.7 4.6 
HS 39 Plastics and articles 
thereof  2.2 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.6 2.8 
8-Raw hides and skins; leather, 
furskins and articles thereof  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 
9-Wood, cork, straw  0.8 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.7 
10-Pulp of wood; paper and 
paperboard  1.7 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.3 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.5 
11-Textiles and textile articles  3.1 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.3 2.6 
12-Footwear, headgear, etc.  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 
13-Articles of stone, plaster, 
cement  1.1 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.4 1.3 
14-Precious stones and metals  5.3 3.9 8.6 9.4 8.4 4.3 1.6 3.0 3.4 
HS 71 Precious or semi - 
precious stones, precious 
metals  5.3 3.9 8.6 9.4 8.4 4.3 1.6 3.0 3.4 
HS 7102 Diamonds  5.2 3.8 8.4 9.3 8.3 4.3 1.5 2.9 3.3 
15-Base metals and articles 
thereof  9.6 11.1 6.4 6.1 6.4 6.5 6.2 6.8 5.7 
HS 73 Articles of iron or steel  3.9 4.3 3.1 3.4 3.4 3.4 2.9 3.1 2.7 
HS 72 Iron and steel  1.3 1.6 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.9 2.1 1.6 
HS 74 Copper and articles 
thereof  3.0 4.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
16-Machinery, electrical 
equipment  17.1 14.6 14.2 13.9 14.4 13.5 13.5 13.6 13.7 
HS 84 Machinery and 
mechanical appliances; parts 
thereof  11.8 9.2 8.9 8.3 8.8 8.6 8.5 8.4 8.6 
HS 85 Electrical machinery and 
equipment and parts thereof  5.3 5.3 5.3 5.5 5.7 5.0 5.0 5.2 5.1 
17-Transport equipment  25.3 16.1 13.4 10.3 10.5 9.5 8.0 8.5 10.0 
HS 87 Vehicles  12.2 10.8 9.6 8.5 7.7 8.1 7.1 8.0 7.5 
HS 89 Ships, boats and floating 
structures  12.9 4.1 3.0 0.8 2.5 1.2 0.7 0.1 2.0 
18-Precision equipment  1.6 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.3 
19-Arms and ammunition  0.1 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 
20-Miscellaneous manufactured 
articles  2.2 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.7 
21-Works of art, etc.  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Other  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on the data provided by the authorities.   WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 274 - 
 
  Table  A1.4 Merchandise imports by origin, 2014 -22 
 2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Total imports  
(USD  million ) 8,585.9  7,731.7  7,159.7  6,557.5  6,764.3  6,209.8  4,932.3  6,442.4  7,887.5  
 (% of total)  
Americas  7.6 4.9 5.9 5.0 5.5 7.4 8.5 8.0 9.1 
United  States  2.4 1.0 2.2 2.0 2.5 2.7 3.4 2.7 3.3 
Other America  5.2 3.9 3.7 3.0 3.0 4.7 5.1 5.3 5.7 
Peru 0.3 1.1 1.4 1.8 1.8 2.2 2.7 3.8 3.3 
Chile 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.3 1.8 1.6 0.4 1.1 
Brazil  0.2 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 
Europe  11.6 10.1 11.8 15.0 11.3 14.9 16.4 13.6 16.2 
EU-27 8.5 6.3 6.6 12.6 9.3 12.1 13.0 10.1 13.7 
Netherlands  0.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.9 2.8 
Bulgaria  1.0 0.8 0.8 6.7 3.1 4.0 5.3 2.5 2.5 
Germany  2.8 1.8 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.6 
Italy 1.3 1.1 1.9 1.3 0.5 1.4 0.4 0.4 1.5 
Ireland  0.0 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.8 1.0 
Finland  0.2 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.8 
EFTA 1.6 2.4 3.1 0.4 0.6 1.1 0.7 1.2 0.9 
Switzerland  1.5 2.4 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.6 1.1 0.8 
Other  Europe  1.5 1.3 2.0 1.9 1.4 1.8 2.8 2.3 1.7 
United  Kingdom  1.0 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.2 1.7 1.3 
Commonwealth of 
Independent States 
(CIS)a 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.6 
Africa  62.0 71.0 70.2 63.0 61.7 60.6 56.2 52.9 43.7 
South  Africa  55.6 62.8 61.5 55.2 53.8 54.9 50.4 47.9 39.0 
Democratic 
Republic of the 
Congo  2.6 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.9 1.2 1.5 
Middle East  0.4 1.4 1.3 2.8 3.3 2.9 2.8 4.7 9.5 
United Arab 
Emirates  0.2 0.6 0.7 1.5 1.8 1.6 1.0 1.0 3.8 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  0.1 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.8 2.9 
Qatar  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.3 1.1 
Bahrain, 
Kingdom of  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.8 
Oman  0.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.5 1.2 1.9 0.8 
Asia 14.9 10.2 7.6 9.4 12.2 11.0 13.0 15.7 15.6 
China  3.9 6.3 3.2 5.3 6.7 5.1 6.4 7.1 7.6 
Japan  0.3 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.2 
Other Asia  10.7 3.7 4.0 3.5 5.0 5.2 5.8 7.6 6.8 
India 1.8 1.9 2.5 2.2 2.2 3.6 3.6 4.8 4.7 
Other  3.5 2.0 2.7 4.6 5.6 2.6 2.2 4.3 5.3 
Memo:           
EU-28 9.5 6.7 7.1 13.4 10.1 12.9 14.2 11.8 15.0 
SACU  58.0 65.4 69.0 61.7 59.1 58.4 52.0 49.0 40.1 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States.   
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations, based on the data provided by the authorities . 
  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 275 - 
 
  Table  A3.1 Non-exhaustive list of import prohibitions and restrictions, 2022  
Description/goods  Prohibition/  
restriction  Authority/body  Documentation 
requirement  Actions to be 
taken by NamRA 
in case of 
non-compliance  
Firearms & 
ammunition  Restricted  Namibian Police Commissioner  Import/export 
permit  Detain  
Narcotic/drugs  Prohibited  Namibian Police Commissioner  Not allowed by law  Seize  
Medicines and related 
substances  Restricted  Namibia Medicine Regulatory 
Council (NMRC)  Import/export 
permit  Detain  
Uranium ores or 
concentration  Restricted  Ministry of Health and Social 
Services (MHSS) National 
Radiation Protection Authority  Import/export 
permit  Detain  
Nuclear reactors, fuel 
elements  Restricted  MHSS National Radiation 
Protection Authority  Import/export 
permit  Detain  
Radioactive chemical 
elements and 
radioactive isotopes  Restricted  MHSS National Radiation 
Protection Authority  Import/export 
permit  Detain  
Apparatus based on 
the use of X -ray or of 
alpha, beta, and 
gamma radiation  Restricted  MHSS National Radiation 
Protection Author ity  Import/export 
permit  Detain  
Instrument and 
apparatus for checking 
the flow levels. 
Instruments and 
apparatus of 
measuring or 
detection alpha, beta, 
gamma radiation  Restricted  MHSS National Radiation 
Protection Authority  Import/export 
permit  Detain  
Source:  NamRA.  
  WT/TPR/S/ 447 • Namibia  
 
- 276 - 
 
  Table  A4.1 Fish landings  in Namibia , 2014 -22 
(Tonnes)  
Species  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Pilchards  32,076  20,379  3,427  3,974  0 0 0 0 0 
Anchovy  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Hake 121,764  137,488  150,219  159,600  152,038  143,574  122,429  154,861  150,662  
Horse 
mackerel  277,826  315,972  318,200  304,533  311,892  295,976  182,186  209,676  196,602  
Monk  10,076  10,105  8,412  8,001  7,702  8,054  6,768  6,420  7,054  
Crab 2,723  2,968  3,078  2,964  3,136  4,100  2,773  3,324  4,254  
Rock lobster  196 87 126 164 134 282 80 170 110 
Orange 
roughy  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Tuna 1,447  1,589  1,098  463 1,016  475 1,256  3,369  7,667  
Kingklip  3,607  3,441  3,731  2,655  3,084  2,505  2,104  2,719  1,422  
Other  species  31,583  25,242  31,793  27,768  37,184  31,784  22,755  22,166  39,668  
Total  481,298  517,271  520,084  510,122  516,186  486,749  340,350  402,704  407,438  
Source:  MFMR.