The Brief: A monthly wrap-up of News Worth Knowing

KELP BLUE EXPECTS TO INVEST N$3BN IN NAMIBIAN ECONOMY OVER FOUR YEARS

Kelp Blue expects to invest over N$3 billion in the Namibian economy over the next three to four years.

Hooft added that with sufficient sales, the company would move into a larger commercial phase, increasing capacity by over 50,000 tonnes per year from the current.

“We already have registrations in 17 countries and recently received approval to sell our product for crops across Europe,” he said. “We also have several southern African countries on board.”

However, he added that delays in obtaining Namibian and South African registrations have cost the company around N$15 million in monthly sales.

Despite the challenges, he noted progress, particularly with support from the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the Ministry of Trade and Industrialisation.

“That has been the biggest and only difficulty in terms of doing business in Namibia so far. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism have been a pleasure to work with,” he said.

IRON-TO-HYDROGEN TECH POSITIONS NAMIBIA AS KEY PLAYER IN GLOBAL DECARBONISATION

According to a study by the Climate Neutrality Foundation, I2H is the first of its kind and Namibia’s ample solar resources make it an ideal location for this process, which offers a more affordable pathway to hydrogen production than traditional methods like electrolysis and ammonia cracking.

“A first plant for the direct reduction of iron ore using hydrogen produced with very cheap electricity from photovoltaic systems is currently being built in Namibia and will start production at the end of 2024. Imported green iron can be used not only for steel production, but also for electricity generation,” the report read.

In combination with steam (H₂O), the DRI releases hydrogen (H₂), which can then be used for energy generation.

The HyIron-Oshivela project is scheduled to start by late 2024 in Namibia’s Erongo Region and is set to spearhead DRI production.

NAMIBIA EMBRACES ITU STANDARDS TO BOOST ICT INVESTMENT

According to CRAN Executive of Communication and Consumer Relations, Mufaro Nesongano, global standardisation is vital for building trust, ensuring interoperability and reducing costs in the technology sector.

CRAN represented Namibia at the ITU World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA-24), in October 2024 in New Delhi, India.

Nesongano added that by engaging in these discussions, Namibia aims to align with global best practices and explore standards that will enhance the nation’s digital infrastructure, drive economic growth and support technological advancement.

“CRAN’s delegation will support the African agenda, focusing on collaboration to develop common standards. This participation is essential for Namibia, as it positions the country to influence standards that impact emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the metaverse,” he said.

CRAN Board Member and Head of Delegation Florette Nakusera said Namibia’s active involvement in WTSA-24 reaffirms commitment to contributing to the global ICT landscape.

“By participating in these crucial discussions, we ensure that our country not only keeps pace with rapid technological advancements but also helps shape the standards that will drive digital transformation and economic growth in Africa and beyond,” she said.

FNB NAMIBIA LAUNCHES REAL-TIME CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS

FNB has partnered with BankservAfrica to launch realtime cross-border payments across the Common Monetary Area (CMA) of South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini for amounts up to N$25,000.

The development comes as FNB’s cross-border payments within the CMA are now processed via EFT, a shift driven by new regulatory requirements.

“The agreement, signed on 24 September and fully implemented by 18 October 2024, marks a significant milestone for us,” said Ian Erlank, RMB Namibia’s Head of Global Markets.

“The speed and ease with which our customers can make cross-border transactions is of utmost importance. Customers can now enjoy this service without any additional fees or requirements.”

The partnership between FNB and BankservAfrica marks a new era of efficient and inclusive financial services in the region.

NAMIBIA EYES RELAXATION OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES IMPORT BANS

The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) says the country is set to gradually ease its import restrictions on select fruits and vegetables under a new crop value chain development strategy for 2025-2030.

“The aim is to move away from protection and border closures and position the industry to be competitive. The scheme has achieved its goal of supporting local production, and we foresee that by 2030, many of these measures will be relaxed,” he said.

Mulonda also highlighted the importance of balancing trade within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) to prevent economic exploitation and trade tensions.

For nearly two decades, Namibia has worked to reduce its reliance on imported fruit and vegetables, aiming for food security and supporting local agriculture.

Initiated in 2005, the country’s market share promotion scheme has gradually pushed domestic farming forward, with locally grown vegetables now covering 56% of Namibia’s needs, a substantial increase from just 5% when the programme began.

Currently, Namibia’s irrigated horticulture covers staple vegetables, with local products like tomatoes and onions even finding export markets in South Africa and Angola.

Although the country still imports over 96% of its fruit, locally grown blueberries and table grapes have gained a competitive edge in European and Asian markets, where Namibia’s early harvest window offers an advantage.