President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged Namibian business leaders to actively familiarise themselves with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area so they can expand and trade beyond the country’s borders.
She was addressing the Africa Economic Leadership Council’s Invest in Africa Trade Expo and Business Summit held at Swakopmund from 28 to 30 May.
In a speech read on her behalf by minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, the president said with global tension and uncertainty, there is a new scramble for African mineral resources with only 16% intra-Africa trade.
“Africa is a continent that does not trade with itself,” she said.
A major focus of the summit, one of Africa’s most influential economic gatherings, has been the role of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in reshaping Africa’s economic future by promoting intra-African trade, industrial integration, and value-chain development.
The conference brought together over 200 policymakers, investors, and micro, small and medium enterprise delegates to promote domestic investment and unlock the intra-African trade opportunities presented by the AfCFTA.
Speaking at the summit, Africa Economic Leadership Council co-founder Heinrich Hafeni emphasised the summit’s continental significance.
“Invest in Africa 2026 will serve as a premier platform for networking, collaboration and economic empowerment, while promoting intra-African trade and strengthening partnerships that support the continent’s development agenda under AfCFTA,” Hafeni said.
He said this was the biggest trade fair with about 200 conference delegates including six ambassadors as well as representatives from as far as Ghana, Cameroon, Angola, Mozambique and Tanzania.
“We had between 80 and 100 exhibitors at the conference, and it was a resounding success.”
Hafeni said about 90% of Namibians do not understand what the AfCFTA is all about and the council wanted to spread awareness about its benefits.
“We invited all business chambers in the country. We also invited all 14 governors and regional councils of Namibia,” the entrepreneur, who runs Hafeni Tours at Swakopmund, said.
“The primary focus of the summit was transitioning continental trade policies into actionable business growth,” Hafeni told the conference.
A major focus was the role of the AfCFTA in reshaping Africa’s economic future by promoting intra-African trade, industrial integration, and value-chain development.
Co-founder Percy Maropedi-Koji said Africa stands at a defining moment in its development journey.
