The 2025 Coastal Trade Fair and Conference, which was held at Swakopmund, shed light on the opportunities and struggles faced by small business owners, particularly in fashion, agriculture, and traditional food industries.
Among the exhibitors is Maria Franciskus, a local fashion designer and owner of Oshana Fashion.
She explained the difficulties facing small tailoring businesses due to the increasing demand for affordable, tailor-made clothing from consumers.
Franciskus, whose only source of income is tailoring, pointed out that while more consumers are seeking custom-made garments, the high cost of fabric makes it harder for small businesses to sustain operations and make a profit.
"The struggle is that sometimes we buy material and people at demanding low prices, with some buying things and selling them at cheaper prices, and we are not benefiting end of the day, we make a small profit, and it's not enough, especially when you are travelling and coming to places like this. They just complain and then demand a lower price than what we are expecting."
The Corporate Communications Officer of the Agro Marketing and Trade Agency, Pasval Elijah, emphasised that using online platforms boosts visibility for farmers and connects rural producers with urban consumers, ensuring greater access to fresh, locally grown produce nationwide.
Therefore, Elijah called on farmers to adopt digital platforms for marketing their produce, tapping into broader markets and boosting nationwide access to fresh products.
Elijah emphasised the importance of digital transformations in agriculture.
"It should not only be a traditional way of promoting. There should be platforms that are also created that make their life easier, that you can still promote and steal market products at minimum cost; even as a consumer, I should be able to order my products online."
In addition to commercial ventures, the event also highlights cultural preservation efforts.
Idda Uushona, founder of Gwaagali Trading, is using her business to promote traditional Namibian foods and reconnect the youth with their cultural roots.
Her products, which feature a variety of wild fruits and vegetables, aim to educate the public about the significance of indigenous knowledge and the natural environment.
"I just want them to know that we are bringing the things to them. We want them to know that we have many things from our cultural background that we are able to eat or use; most people don't know about this. I want them to come to our store so that they can currently app produce with their own hands or get it from our nature."
The fair continues to serve as a convergence point for innovation, cultural pride, and entrepreneurial resilience, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of local enterprise in Namibia.