Windhoek, 5 August 2026.
Statement by Her Excellency Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, on the Occasion of the Official Opening of the 13th Edition of the Chamber of Mines Mining Expo and Conference, under the theme “From Dialogue to Delivery: Assessing Progress in Creating Mining-Led Economic Growth and Employment Since NamPPF”.
Director of Ceremonies;
Honourable Modestus Amutse, Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy;
Honourable Dr. Tobie Aupindi, Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources and other Members of Parliament present;
Honourable Sam Nujoma, Governor of Khomas Region, and other Governors present;
Mr. George Botshiwe, President of the Chamber of Mines and Managing Director of QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine;
Mr. John Roos, First Vice President of the Chamber of Mines and Country Manager of B2Gold;
Mr. Irvinne Simataa, Second Vice President of the Chamber of Mines and Executive Vice President of Swakop Uranium;
Esteemed Council Members of the Chamber of Mines;
Mr. Fabian Shaanika, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia;
Captains of the Industry;
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
His Worship Sakarias Uunona, Mayor of the City of Windhoek;
Regional and Local Authority Councillors;
Esteemed Exhibitors and Participants;
Distinguished Invited Guests;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
The mining sector remains one of Namibia’s leading economic sectors towards the realisation of Vision 2030. Despite ongoing global economic uncertainty and the decline in certain commodity markets, the industry continues to contribute to economic growth, investment, exports and Government revenue.
I must say, this Mining Expo and Conference comes at an opportune time after my State Visits to the United Republic of Tanzania and the People’s Republic of China respectively, where I led the Namibian delegation, including business leaders. During those visits, we advocated for partnerships to strengthen value addition to our natural resources for the benefit of our people.
Within this context, I thank the Chamber of Mines of Namibia for convening this important Annual Conference and for inviting me to be part of the 2026 Mining Expo and Conference.
I commend the organisers for the choice of the theme, “From Dialogue to Delivery: Assessing Progress in Creating Mining-led Economic Growth and Employment since Namibia’s Public-Private Forum (NamPPF).”
The theme recognises that the time has come for us to move from discussions to implementation while taking stock of the outcomes achieved since the launch of Namibia’s Public-Private Forum in 2025.
When I launched Namibia’s Public-Private Forum last year, I asked stakeholders to bring forward their best ideas and bold proposals to drive sustainable economic growth for our people.
I have since commissioned three Presidential Task Forces in December 2025, for Health, Economic Recovery and Land and Housing, who have submitted their reports, and the line ministries are hard at work to implement the proposed recommendations.
I have given those ministries until the end of August for them to report back on the implementation. I hope to receive good reports, as what has been recommended from the task forces at this stage needs no money, but only appropriate actions.
Director of Ceremonies,
Since its establishment in 2013, the Mining Expo and Conference has grown into Namibia’s premier business and investment event, bringing together Government officials, industry leaders, investors (both local and international), development partners, academics, suppliers, service providers and the public to discuss the future of the mining sector in the country.
Thus, underlining the growth of the Expo that is evident in the number of exhibitors, which stands at 222 this year as opposed to 195 last year.
I am informed that of the 222 exhibitors, 198 are local companies, 18 from SADC, and 6 international, meaning this Expo is becoming international.
Director of Ceremonies,
This Expo serves as a platform for information sharing and an opportunity for Namibians and businesses to identify investment opportunities and form partnerships, particularly in the upstream sector.
Aligning with youth empowerment, the Expo is also a platform for young people to learn about careers in the mining sector, reinforcing the Government’s call to strengthen human capacity in strategic sectors such as oil and gas, as well as other critical minerals.
I am informed that the Expo is freely accessible to everyone. Against this background, I implore all young people and the entire public to take this opportunity and visit the Expo. Remember, every day is a learning day and seeing is believing. Therefore, Namibians, young and old, do not miss this opportunity.
The continued growth of this Expo reflects the sector’s values: resilience, investor confidence and diversification. Resilience in the sense that, despite global uncertainty and market-related challenges, the mining sector remains one of the key contributors to our economic landscape. As reported in May this year, the mining industry contributed 14% to the GDP and paid N$7.8 billion in taxes in 2025, a 37% increase from the N$5.6 billion paid in 2024.
The sector has also demonstrated investors’ confidence in Namibia as a stable and attractive investment destination, while leveraging its untapped potential for diversification and value addition. Hence, the increased number of international exhibitors.
Director of Ceremonies,
The Eighth Administration has set an ambitious objective of creating 500 000 jobs over the implementation of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). The mining sector is identified as one of the eight economic enablers towards achieving this target.
While the mining sector committed through the Namibia Public-Private Forum to creating over 18 000 direct jobs and facilitating an estimated US$2.865 billion in new investment through the various mining and exploration projects, more can still be done.
I am informed that since the Namibia Public-Private Forum, progress has been made in advancing several mining and infrastructure projects. These projects have translated into over 1 000 jobs at Bannerman Energy’s Etango Uranium Project and Deep Yellow’s Tumas Uranium Project, and more jobs are expected to be created.
This progress is commendable; meanwhile, I implore the mining sector and other sectors of our economy to play their part by ensuring that sustainable jobs are created.
Equally, as Government, we are encouraging the mining sector to heed the Government’s call for value addition and local beneficiation to ensure shared prosperity with the owners of the resources, the people.
In addition to its corporate social responsibility initiatives, the mining sector should consider empowering its long-serving employees with skills, capital and opportunities, enabling them to diversify into other sectors of the economy and drive job creation and economic diversification.
Director of Ceremonies,
The safety and wellness of employees in the mining sector, including small-scale miners, should never be compromised. Mining activities and operations, by their nature, could be dangerous and expose employees to harmful chemicals, some of which may have long-term health effects. In this regard, occupational health and safety should remain a priority in the mining sector.
Together, we must work hard to accelerate the finalisation of the Occupational Health and Safety Bill. All of us have to embrace the establishment of occupational health and safety centres across the country. This will ensure that employees, even those operating in the informal sector, can have access to the service.
In addition, I implore stakeholders in the mining sector to put in place post-retirement medical schemes to support employees who retire with injuries and those whose illnesses may manifest themselves long after retirement. This will ensure that workers are cared for even after their retirement. We can also work together to establish the national health scheme that can take care of us throughout our lifetime.
Director of Ceremonies,
As stakeholders, we need to shift towards implementation, accountability and delivery. Let us engage in honest discussions on the progress made, find solutions to challenges, and map a way forward that is not only strategic and inclusive but also ensures measurable outcomes.
As I always say, we are too few to be poor, and the high unemployment we experience must be a headache to all of us who are in a position to act. The role players in the mining sector are important partners in the development of our country.
Director of Ceremonies,
As one of the world’s leading uranium-producing nations, Namibia is uniquely positioned to participate meaningfully in the broader nuclear value chain. The country’s uranium resources represent an opportunity that extends beyond mining itself and should increasingly be viewed as a strategic national asset capable of supporting wider socio-economic development.
Namibia offers a stable, transparent and competitive investment environment and is committed to attracting responsible investments while ensuring local beneficiation and economic growth.
In this regard, continued dialogue between the Government and the industry remains essential in identifying practical opportunities that enhance Namibia’s industrial base while preserving the country’s international competitiveness as a mining investment destination.
The Government remains committed to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that our targets across the seven key priority areas and eight economic enablers are met and translate into measurable benefits for our people.
As I conclude, once again, I thank the organisers and sponsors for your continuous support in making this event a success.
Your commitment and dedication to the growth of the mining sector serve as a powerful motivation for our national development and shared prosperity.
I look forward to the investment opportunities that will come out of this event.
I thank you.
