Namibia Trade Network hosts latest edition of the Business Breakfast Club

Another fascinating instalment of the Namibia Trade Network's Business Breakfast Club (BBC) took place in the capital, under the theme Innovation, Technology and Communication. The event was packed with business professionals eager to hear more from the diverse speakers who came to share the latest trends, discuss Namibian innovation, and suggest solutions to challenges in this space.

Speakers for this instalment included Jesaya Hano-Oshike, the co-founder & Director of the Basecamp Business Incubator, Naude Muller, with a wealth of experience building tech startups in Namibia, including co-founding PayToday and IDToday, Linda McLeod, the Acting Manager in Startup & Scale Unit at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board as well as Yarukeekuro Ndorokaze, the Chief Strategic Communications and Support Engagements at the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa).

McLeod shared that “Namibia is the perfect launch pad for emerging technologies and industries.” She posed the question, “How do we prepare ourselves?” She excitedly shared why Namibia is on the verge of amazing things and important legislation to support this. McLeod went on to share that “we already have well-established industries like the financial industry. How can we be a sandbox for other countries?”

When talking about technology, McLeod spoke about how it’s hard to compare ourselves with international standards when it comes to technological uptake because while this might be true in Windhoek, it’s not the same case in rural areas. As she explained, “I think it's a digital divide but we are moving forward.”

Ndorokaze shared that at NamRa, although a relatively young organisation, they are constantly striving towards innovation as one of its strategic objectives. However, he shared that while they are focusing on creating a reliable way to submit tax returns digitally, many Namibians still prefer to work with printed documents, demonstrating the digital appetite in the country.

Hano-Oshike raised the question about what can be done to ensure that we focus on the promotion of the benefits of “using technology so that people would see the benefit.” He added that a lot is happening in the country in terms of innovation and technology.

Muller echoed sentiments about the exciting innovation happening here and shared thought-provoking stories from his experience as an engineer and business founder. An interesting takeaway for the audience came when he shared what he is currently working on, which leverages WhatsApp. He told the audience this is an underused tool that he recommends all businesses look into. As he explained, “The functionality and the flow functionality that WhatsApp is bringing out is going to be a major game changer. It's a way to reach your clients and you can run complicated processes in the background.”

Hosted at the exclusive Stellenbosch Wine Bar, the Business Breakfast Club Namibia is an exclusive membershipbased event series designed for professionals and business leaders who are looking to expand their networks and gain valuable insights into various Namibian industries, with a focus on fostering meaningful connections and promoting knowledge sharing. Each event features industry talks from experts and thought leaders, providing members with unique opportunities to learn from some of the most successful and innovative minds in business. Whether you are an entrepreneur, executive, or simply looking to connect with other professionals, the Business Breakfast Club Namibia offers an unparalleled opportunity to expand your network and deepen your knowledge of trade and industry. Learn more at www.bbcnam.com.

The Namibia Trade Network and the Namibia Trade Network's Business Breakfast Club are key initiatives of Venture Media, a wholly Namibian-owned publishing and media company renowned for its expertise in content creation, storytelling, and media production. With a focus on tourism, conservation, and industry promotion, Venture Media leverages its three decades of experience to lead the industry in delivering accurate, credible, and up-to-date information across print, video, and digital platforms.

- Kirsty Watermeyer

Would you like to be a part of the next Business Breakfast Club scheduled to take place on the 11th of September? We will be discussing healthcare & employee wellness. Register by sending an email to daleen@venture.com.na