I launched a new business guide funded by the British High Commission called Doing Business in Namibia yesterday at the latest lunch meeting of the British Business Group (BBG) in Windhoek. The launch was attended by a number of local and visiting special guests as well as BBG members spanning the mining, marine and financial services, and tourism sectors. Deputy Minister of Finance Calle Schlettwein and Deputy Director of Economic Policy and Advisory Service Penda Ithindi joined us from the Ministry of Finance. We also had a special guest visiting from the UK, Baroness Lynda Chalker, chairman of Africa Matters and former Foreign Office Minister.
The guide is intended to help British companies gain a comprehensive insight into the economic environment and investment prospects in Namibia. It contains a helpful digest of key country background matters, sets out relevant legislative issues, and highlights the opportunities (by sector) and challenges of operating here.
The UK government remains committed to building Britain’s prosperity by increasing exports and investment, opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable global growth.
At a recent event to mark the one year anniversary of the launch of the UK’s trade strategy, the Trade and Investment White Paper, UK Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green said: “Encouraging businesses to export more is at the very heart of our approach. We need to ensure business, especially our small businesses, have all the tools they need to flourish, that we strengthen and improve our relationship with trade partners around the world, that we fight protectionism and ensure poor countries can benefit fully from free and fair trade.” This business guide is part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s local efforts in Namibia to provide such tools for British businesses. The British High Commission in Windhoek, although small and without a UK Trade & Investment presence, remains committed to assisting UK companies to increase trade and investment links with Namibia.
If you would like to receive a copy of the guide or find out more about the British Business Group in Namibia please contact Carina Smith at carina.smith@fco.gov.uk