Namibia needs N$5 billion to meet its objective of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and Vision 2030.

The National Planning Commission Director General, Kaire Mbuende has challenged financial institutions to channel more of their resources into productive investments.

Dr. Mbuende says achieving national development goals require strategic investment, resource mobilisation and stronger partnerships with the private sector.

"We have identified a number of priorities, but also there are sectors that will be instrumental in facilitating, which we call enablers, in facilitating the transformation through investments. This sector includes green hydrogen and renewable energy, oil and gas developments, logistics and transport infrastructures, agriculture (in particular irrigation), mining, and beneficiation, including critical minerals."

Former Bank of Namibia Governor, Johannes !Gawaxab has challenged Namibia's pension funds and institutional investors to approach domestic investment opportunities with a balance between national development priorities and their responsibility to protect members' retirement savings.

Dr. !Gawaxab says the question should not simply be why pension funds are reluctant to invest locally but conditions that must be in place for them to invest responsibly and confidently.

He says Namibia must find ways to attract more institutional capital into productive domestic investments.

"The savings are the largest pool of long-term capital in Namibia. Today's theme asked how we position Namibia for that capital. I want to ask the question from their side of the table, from the side of the pension fund."

The Chief Executive Officer of M&G Investment Ben Bertolini says Namibia's economic transformation will not only depend on its natural resource wealth but also on its ability to develop human capital, promote entrepreneurship and reshape leadership.

Bertolini emphasised that investing in people and developing the right leadership mindset can drive economic growth even without abundant natural resources.

"At the end of the day capital is dead. Capital is like diamond, gold and all of those things. As humans, we need to give life to capital."