After 27 investment projects created 6 600 jobs, the Office of the Prime Minister is moving to unlock a further N$15 billion in investments held back by land, environmental, visa and regulatory hurdles.
The move follows a briefing by the Ministry of International Relations and Trade to prime minister Elijah Ngurare on Monday.
He was briefed on the progress of investment projects facilitated through the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board thus far.
Ngurare directed officials to examine the affected projects and find practical, lasting solutions to the obstacles delaying implementation.
He called on institutions to act with urgency and improve coordination to prevent avoidable delays.
Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi said 27 projects had reached operational stage over the past three years, creating 6 600 jobs. A further 94 projects remain in the pipeline, with the potential to create about 22 000 additional jobs.
However, she said 15 projects are facing specific bottlenecks, including difficulties accessing land, environmental approvals, visa requirements and regulatory constraints.
Ashipala-Musavyi backed the call for swift action, warning that prolonged delays could discourage investors.
“When an investor waits for a year, two years, they lose interest,” she said.
