Observer Money

Swakopmund’s built environment is undergoing a visible transformation, driven by a combination of sustained residential demand, strategic municipal investment, and broader development efforts aimed at repositioning the town as a regional hub for tourism, industry, and education. According to the latest municipal building statistics, Swakopmund recorded a steady 18% year-on-year increase in approved building plans in June 2025, with monthly approvals rising by 22% from May to June. Residential projects continue to dominate, making up over 96% of approvals, an indication of the town’s persistent housing demand and the pace of suburban expansion.  However, what’s particularly promising is the growing…

The island of Mauritius was once the native habitat of the dodo, a striking, flightless bird that went extinct in the face of unsustainable hunting by sailors. Today, the dodo is a national symbol for the country, representing the importance of conservation and sustainability efforts. Economies are also shaped by human action, including fiscal policy. Mauritius has a strong policy track record that has engendered a transition from an agricultural economy to a diversified upper-middle-income country.  However, Mauritius now faces challenges from high public debt, significant public investment needs, low productivity, and an ageing society. To address them, fiscal policy…

Justicia Shipena The newly appointed leadership of the Namibian Petroleum Operators Association (Nampoa) aims to enhance its role in the oil and gas sector by strengthening dialogue, coordination, and engagement across the industry. On Wednesday, Nampoa announced changes to its board. Shell Namibia country chair Eduardo Rodriguez has been appointed chairperson, replacing Klaus Endresen, who stepped down after two terms and over 30 years of service to the association and the industry. As a founding member of Nampoa since its establishment in 1992, the association said Endresen will remain on the board as a representative of BW Kudu.  The association…

Justicia Shipena  Sourcing construction materials locally or within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region can help reduce building costs in Namibia, says Frederick van Greunen, a board member of the Institute of Namibian Quantity Surveyors (INQS). He was speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday during the INQS business breakfast held in Windhoek.  The event brought together over 60 participants, including architects, engineers, banks, lawyers, suppliers, and equity financiers, to discuss the role of quantity surveyors in the building industry. “We need to look in our neighbourhood if we are buying materials—tiles, steel, paint, sheeting. We mustn’t always import…

Allexer Namundjembo   A new Industrial Baseline Survey (IBS) says Namibia is not yet ready for large-scale oil and gas production because it lacks key technical certifications, strong health-and-safety systems and reliable compliance checks. The findings were shared in virtual session hosted by the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).  The meeting, open to both NCCI members and non-members, centred on the nation's readiness for the upstream oil and gas sector. The IBS was launched in December 2024 and officially endorsed by the government. It was commissioned by NCCI and conducted by Deloitte Namibia, with contributions from the Ministry of…

Allexer Namundjembo Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) won five awards at the 2025 Brand Africa Awards held in Windhoek.  The top award was the grand prix most admired African brand – telecommunications, which recognises the company's focus on innovation, customer empowerment, and its broader impact across Africa. MTC also received the awards for  grand prix most admired Namibian brand, the most admired Namibian brand doing good for society and the environment, the most admired Namibian brand contributing to a better Africa, the most admired African brand (aided recall), and the most admired telecommunications brand in Namibia. Speaking after the announcement, MTC’s…

Justicia Shipena Residents in the Khomas region paid the highest price for white bread flour in June 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) bulletin released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). A 2.5kg bag of white flour costs N$53.21 in Khomas, compared to N$51.99 in southern and eastern regions and N$49.66 in the north. For white cake flour (2.5 kg), the highest price was N$59.19 in the southern and Eastern regions followed by Khomas at N$57.55, while the north recorded the lowest price at N$52.64. This comes as the country's annual inflation rate stood at 3.7% in…

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…