Chamwe Kaira
Kaoko Fria Investment and its partners are moving ahead with plans to develop a modern port at Cape Fria and a new city, Atlantic City.
The project will roll out in phases, beginning with an integrated infrastructure plan, engineering and architectural designs, township planning, and the land acquisition process.
Future phases include the construction of a port at Angra Fria.
The port is expected to become a trans-shipment hub for imports and exports, supporting Namibia’s logistics and blue economy goals.
It will also cater to fishing operations and the shipment of minerals and cargo for Namibia and neighbouring countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), including southern Angola, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Kaoko Fria Investment said the project would eventually include a smart city with a network of roads, rail, and an airport linking the port to the rest of Namibia and beyond.
The development plans have now expanded to cover a broader transport corridor stretching across northern Namibia, culminating in a dry port at Katima Mulilo.
The Cape Fria area, including Angra Fria, is remote and uninhabited. The closest station is at Mowe Bay, about 130 km to the south. A few communal settlements lie to the east in Kaokoland.
The company said plans for a deep-sea port in the area date back to the early 1980s. The aim was to connect northern Namibia and its neighbouring countries to global maritime trade routes. This would improve Namibia’s role in intra-African trade.
Kaoko Fria Investment said the development aligns with Namibia’s goal of becoming a regional logistics hub, as outlined in the country’s logistics master plan.
The plan envisions Namibia as a gateway linking SADC to global markets.
The project also supports national targets under Vision 2030, NDP4, the Harambee Prosperity Plan, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
