U.S.-Namibia Business Roundtable

On Monday, September 27, 2021, Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) hosted the “US-Namibia Business Roundtable”. Monday’s event was the fourth in a series of country-focused events on the sidelines of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings.Monday’s session focused on Namibia and featured remarks by prominent members of the Namibian government. The Namibian delegation was led by H.E. Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia; Honorable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; and H.E. Margaret Mensah-Williams, Namibian Ambassador to the United States.Florie Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa, delivered welcoming remarks, stating that CCA is looking forward to continuing in-person engagements while remaining accessible through the broadcasting of events and COVID-safe. Ms. Liser also noted the critical importance of Namibia’s commitment to transparency and accountability in development.President Geingob began by stressing the importance of creating a conducive environment for investors through the use of constructive leadership. He emphasized the need for “unity and inclusive governance” and how the private sector benefits greatly from regulated systems and institutions. He highlighted his team of scholars in his delegation, calling on all to report on their respective sectors.Minister of Finance Ipumbu Shiimi, spoke of the need to diversify the Namibian economy beyond minerals and other commodities such as fishing. He identified five areas of strength in the country worthy of greater investment: agriculture, logistics, energy, chemical production, and the electronic sector. Through the pursuance of these five areas Namibia “can be a hub for trade in Southern Africa.” Honorable Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the network of roads within the country and available seaport and airport for trade.Drawing on themes touched on by Ministers Alweendo and Shiimi, Deputy Prime Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed that “Namibia is not an island. We are part of the global village [and] we have to make sure that we always remain relevant in the international community.” Economic diplomacy has been at the forefront of Namibia’s international policy and rests heavily on international stability. She stressed the need to mitigate the impact of climate change and increase sustainable investments.The interactive session featured members both in Zoom attendance and in person. Attendees included Citi, CCA Board Member Dr. Mima Nedelcovych of AfricaGlobal Schaffer, Axxess, Lockheed Martin, CCA Board President Dr. Jeffrey Sturchio of Rabin Martin, the Bizzell Group, and more. Topics addressed in the question-and-answer section included green hydrogen investment and green bonds, youth deployment, the future unveiling of public sector assets through an IPO this December, and more.In her closing remarks, President and CEO Liser expressed CCA’s continued mandate to support the economic development of Namibia and other African nations by continuing to provide a platform for discussions on U.S.- Africa collaboration for economic growth.The CCA UNGA Special Sessions were generously sponsored by AfricaGlobal Schaffer; Axxess; the Bizzell Group; Flutterwave; Google; Jean Boulle Group; and Lockheed Martin International.