Namibia has identified key sectors where women and youth have a competitive advantage, such as agriculture, aquaculture, cosmetics, and the textiles sector.

The Cosmetics and Essential oil sectors have advanced in terms of production domestically.

Last year, the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade trained about 30 cosmetic companies on good manufacturing practises.

Its Minister Lucia Iipumbu indicated that exportable firms have increased from five in 2016 to 35 last year, with a value ranging from N$400,000 to almost N$60 million.

This, she states, was made possible through concerted efforts by the private and public sectors and development partners.

The Trade Minister further identified other areas in which Namibia can explore, such as the northern tannery, which she says is currently underutilised.

Iipumbu urged the optimisation of the use of the tannery to produce hides and skins for value addition.

The Minister was speaking at the Southern Africa Youth Consultative Workshop on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement Protocol in Windhoek.