Justicia Shipena
The government is amending the Public Procurement Act of 2015 by introducing a code of good practices to support inclusive economic growth.
The new guidelines will provide preferential treatment to SMEs, women-owned businesses, youth-owned enterprises, and previously disadvantaged individuals.
This was announced by minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi during the third ministerial regional business engagement held in the Zambezi Region on Wednesday.
She said the reforms align with the youth empowerment agenda of the eighth administration and form part of a broader strategy to link trade and industrialisation with national development goals.
“Our intention is to ensure Namibian goods and services can access external markets competitively, and that includes supporting the capacity of local producers,” she said.
Ashipala-Musavyi said the private sector, both large and small, plays a key role in driving economic growth and creating jobs. She said the government remains focused on building a supportive environment for business activity.
She highlighted that Namibia continues to promote export-ready products through trade missions and promotion agencies, with a focus on goods that offer value addition.
She said the procurement reforms aim to open more opportunities for local businesses, including informal sector players.
She also spoke about other trade-related matters, including Namibia’s participation in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the creation of specialised economic zones, and the need to boost local production to reduce dependency on imports.
The business engagement, held in collaboration with the ministry of industries, mines and energy, is part of a national consultation process to raise awareness and strengthen implementation of the AfCFTA.
The upcoming sessions are scheduled for Kavango East, and Kavango West regions.
