Chinese companies operating in Namibia have employed 10 515 Namibians by the end of 2024.
This is according to the first corporate social responsibility (CSR) report of Chinese enterprises in Namibia, announced during the Namibia-China Investment and Trade Fair 2025 in Windhoek last week.
According to the report, Chinese companies offer compensation packages that can compete within the Namibian market.
“We ensure salaries reach the upper midrange level in the industry. We provide housing subsidies, paid parental leave, sick leave, and family care leave,” the report reads.
Moreover, the report says employees are provided with social and medical insurance, career development opportunities, and a safe working environment.
Additionally, it says all the companies comply with Namibian laws such as the Labour Act and affirmative action.
“We completely prohibit child labour and forced labour, and we pay close attention to the employment of women and people with disabilities,” the report reads.
It says Chinese farm tax contributions increased from N$10.8 billion in 2020 to N$16.7 billion in 2024.
Meanwhile, local procurement doubled from N$6.4 billion to N$13.6 billion.
Former Namibian ambassador to China Elia Kaiyamo at the event encouraged Namibians to form partnerships with Chinese companies to ensure they can export their products to China.
He said Chinese investors should expand their businesses in Namibia to include key sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, mining, and renewable energy.
“Namibia is negotiating expanded access to the Chinese market for beef, mutton, aquatic products, and grapes, after the recent approvals for mutton and goat exports,” Kaiyamo said.
Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping says the report is a historic milestone, marking 35 years of diplomatic and economic partnership between the countries.
He says Chinese companies should continue deepening their responsibilities.
“Chinese enterprises in Namibia should act as ambassadors to bring our two peoples even closer” Zhao says.
The report showed that Chinese enterprises spent N$67 million on public welfare donations and N$4 million on work safety.
