President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) to review the visa regime and simplify the application forms in a bid to attract investment to the country.
She says the reviews are to make it easier for investors and visitors to access the special visa programme, and serious investors to be given a 5-year permit
The directive is one of the series of such the President issued at the end of the 2-day Namibia Public-Private Forum held in Windhoek.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the directives were also against the concern of the time it takes to start a business in Namibia.
She revealed that the government is in the process of implementing a number of tax reforms to bolster both competitiveness and fairness within the economy.
"These initiatives align with global trends that advocate for increased tax-to-GDP ratios to facilitate economic growth and promote reduced inequality through a progressive taxation framework. On trade and investment matters, manufacturing and value addition require special incentives, which are currently proposed under the EPZ law. However, since the finalisation of the bill may take more time, I am directing that the Special Incentives Policy for manufacturing be completed within the next 2 months and made operational."
President Nandi-Ndaitwah further directed the Agriculture Ministry to enhance its plant health capacity by deploying specialised skills to address emerging phytosanitary challenges.
Another is for the Ministry to expedite the establishment of a structure to commence implementation of the Transformation of the Agri-food Sector implementation plan by December.
The plan identifies priority investment areas and clarifies stakeholder roles.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah explained that, "My vision is clear: to make doing business in Namibia simple, seamless, swift, accessible, and integrated. I want it to be an enabling, one-stop experience, one that becomes an incentive in itself to invest and innovate in our country. I am encouraged by the progress we are already making. The Cabinet has approved BIPA's acquisition of a fit-for-purpose building, which will open in early November 2025. This new facility will serve as Namibia's One-Stop Business Hub, bringing together all essential business services under one roof, a tangible step toward the Namibia we envision."
The President also transformed thematic working groups into three taskforces, which are on economic recovery, health and housing.
The taskforces are expected to report to President Nandi-Ndaitwah by January 2026.