INVESTMENT FAQ
The NIPDB is the lead investment promotion agency for Namibia and was established in January 2021 under section 21 and serves as the first point of contact for investors and prospectors doing and wanting to do business in Namibia. We provide investor support and services such as facilitating exploratory visits, business registration, visas and permits application, obtaining licences, and forming partnership. We collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address investment & business constraints by providing input to policy frameworks to create a conducive investment climate. Additionally, we provide aftercare services to current investors. The NIPDB also provides targeted support for the development, innovation and acceleration of SMEs in four areas mainly access to finance, access to markets and capacity building, and ideation.
The NIPDB does not issue investment certificates. However, section 4 of the Foreign Investment Act 27 of 1990, makes provision for the Minister of Trade and Industry to issue certificates in respect of "Status Investments" as per eligibility criteria defined in section 5 of the act.
The Certificate of Status Investment is issued by the Minister of Industrialisation and Trade and the turnaround time can vary from a few weeks to several months, depending on the project in question. NIPDB does not issue any certificate to investors.
Yes. However, if you are a Non-Namibian investor, land can only be leased and not purchased.
Yes. We have Investment and Export Promotion Attaches stationed in strategic locations across the world, namely Pretoria, Cairo, London, Beijing and New York.
None. Section 3 (1) of the Foreign Investment Act 27 of 1990 permits a foreign national to invest and engage in any business activity in Namibia which any Namibian may undertake. However, section 3 (4) allows for certain business activities to be reserved for Namibians but subject to provisions of section 7(3). At the moment section 3 (4) has not been exercised.
Yes read more here.
All registrations related to business operations can be done at Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) where different forms apply depending on what type of business operations one wants to set up. Permits and Licences for different sectors are issued at the respective government offices/ministries.
NIPDB does not conduct market research and feasibility studies on behalf of potential investors but we do recommend a list of accredited service providers.
Yes, only for those in the manufacturing sector under the EPZ. However, this regime is currently under amendment.
EXCHANGE CONTROL REGULATIONS, 1961 No person may take or send out of Namibia any foreign currency, gold or
securities without an approval granted by the Exchange Control Division of
the Bank of Namibia or alternatively with the Form F.178. (Letters of credit,
bank drafts, travelers’ cheques or similar instruments of exchange should be
regarded as foreign currency.)
No. However, the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade are currently formulating the Special Economic Zones Law.
Namibia has a robust and independent judiciary system that is capable of resolving any dispute that may arise. In addition, Section 13 (1) of the Foreign Investment Act 27 of 1990, provides for settlement of disputes by international arbitration if the investor prefers to do so.
Yes, the NIPDB assist with networking and business connections in Namibia.
No, investing in Namibiadoes not require a minimum capital.
Yes, Under the current Export Processing Zone Regime. However, this regime is currently being phased out.
Land allocation and ownership in Namibia is guided by the Communal Land Reform Act, 5 of 2002 and the Agricultural (Commercial)Land Reform Act , 6 of 1995. These two laws should be read together with the National Land Policy 1998, the National Resettlement Policy of 2001 as well as the Resolutions of the 2nd National Land Conference held in 2018. All these documents are freely downloadable online.
As stated in the Foreign Investment Act 27 of 1990. "Settlement of disputes in respect of Status Investments
13. (1) If a person to whom a Certificate is to be issued under section 7 so elects, the
Certificate shall provide that any dispute between the holder of the Certificate and the
Government in respect of -
(a) any issue relating to the amount of, or any other matter in connection with, any
compensation payable in a case of an expropriation as provided in section 11;
(b) the validity or continued validity of the Certificate,
shall be referred for settlement by international arbitration."
No, this option is currently not available for investors.
No, the NIPDB facilitates and supports both local and foreign investors and prospectors, independent of the value of investment and nationality. Our aim is to make Namibia the investment destination of choice by improving the ease of doing business in Namibia for everyone.
The NIPDB does not fund and finance projects. We assist with referrals to possible partners who provide funding.
The present mandate of NIPDB and its policies do not encompass sponsorship provisions.
No, the investment Board does not and is not allowed to charge for any of it's services rendered to investors or prospectors, local or foreign investors.
We provide investor support and services such as facilitating exploratory visits, business registration, visas and permits application, to licences attainment and partnership; collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address investment & business constraints by providing input to policy framework to create a conducive investment climate and provide aftercare services to current investors. The NIPDB also provides targeted support for the development, innovation and ccerleation of MSMEs in four areas- access to finance, access to markets and capacity building and ideation.
Namibia currently does not have a standard minimum wage, minimum wage various sector to sector and is calculated against the industry wages.
Since independence in 1990, Namibia has concluded a number of trade agreements.
In 1995, the country acceded to the WTO. Namibia is a member of Southern Africa
Customs Union (SACU), thus it’s bound to the SACU agreement concluded in the year
2002. Through SACU, Namibia has successfully concluded Free Trade Agreements (FTAs),
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA), and Preferential Trade Agreements as follows;
MERCOSUR PTA (2016), EFTA FTA (2008), SADC FTA(1998), AFCFTA FTA (2021), SADC-EU
EPA (2016), and SACU+Mozambique - UK EPA (2021).
Investors are protected in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, Foreign Investment Act 27 of 1990 and all other applicable laws.