Statement by HE President Hifikepunye Pohamba at the Namibia International Investment Forum,
29 November 2011, Safari Hotel, Windhoek.


Director of Ceremonies,

Honourable Ministers,

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Esteemed Dr. Mohan Kaul, Director General of the Commonwealth Business Council,

Esteemed Dr Pascal Dozie, Chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council,

Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Distinguished Delegates,

Distinguished Invited Guests,

Senior Government Officials,

Esteemed Business Leaders,

Members of the Media,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to address this important gathering, the Namibia International Investment Forum and Expo 2011.  I would like to start by welcoming all delegates to our country.  As I have stated on many occasions in the past, Namibia is open for business.  We view the Namibia International Investment Forum and Expo 2011 as yet another initiative aimed at advancing our agenda for economic growth and job creation.

I extend a special word of welcome to Dr Mohan Kaul, the Director General of the Commonwealth Business Council and his team for their tireless work in assisting Namibia in particular and the Commonwealth member countries in general, in our efforts to boost economic growth and development.

We are indeed pleased that the Commonwealth Business Council has joined hands with our Government in organising and making this forum a reality.  We commend and applaud you for all the good work you have done in this process.  We regard the Commonwealth Business Council as one of our strategic partners in our investment promotion efforts.  During this year alone, the Commonwealth Business Council has assisted Namibia in hosting two previous investment promotion events, one in London in June, and the recent one in Perth, Australia during CHOGM 2011.  We highly value this co-operation.

Director of Ceremonies,

The Namibia International Investment Forum and the Made in Namibia Expo 2011 is being held under the theme: "Enhancing Investments for Job and Wealth Creation."

This theme was deliberately chosen in order to place this Forum within the context of our ongoing initiatives to combat unemployment, strengthen the performance of our economy and improve the living conditions of our people.

This is also part of our belief that tackling unemployment and poverty must be approached in a multi-pronged manner.  Such an approach, we believe, will enable us to address the challenges facing us more effectively by drawing from a wider pool of skills, expertise and experiences.  Last week, Namibia hosted a Special Cabinet Seminar on Economic Development, which was attended by policy makers and policy implementers.

I am confident that the experiences shared during that Seminar will create useful synergies for policy makers vis-á-vis the proceedings of this Forum.

Namibia is fully committed to the creation and maintenance of an attractive investment climate.  It is for this reason that we have put policies in place to attract foreign direct investment into the different sectors of our economy.  In this regard, our laws and regulatory frameworks are being reviewed and modernised to ensure that they are efficient and competitive, both regionally and internationally.

Our aim is to ensure that the rules and policies on investment do indeed promote, instead of hampering investment.  We should have in place a seamless framework where investors enjoy speedy service in terms of the registration of business entities, the acquisition of various permits and licences, as well as predicable and clear rules on the treatment of workers, occupational health and other related issues.  This is necessary to make Namibia a successful modern economy.

I am particularly pleased that this Forum incorporates the Made in Namibia Expo 2011 which provides a platform for Namibian manufacturers to showcase their goods.  This is part and parcel of our drive to promote value addition and broaden the manufacturing base of our economy towards greater industrialisation.

Director of Ceremonies,

This Forum presents a good opportunity for us to market our country to potential international investors.  We are, therefore, pleased that so many delegates have honoured the invitation to come and participate in this event.  I would like to assure you, dear delegates, that Namibia has a wealth of investment opportunities to offer in different sectors of the economy.

There are indeed many opportunities, ranging from the traditional sectors of mining and fisheries, to new frontiers in the services sector and development of infrastructure, such as the construction of roads, the expansion of our harbours, the modernisation of telecommunication networks and the generation of electricity.

Even in the traditional sector of mining, Namibia presents new and existing frontiers, especially in the area of uranium mining.  Moreover, new opportunities have opened up in the resources sub-sector, including exploration for gas and hydrocarbons.  These areas have already attracted increased attention from international investors and I invite you to explore them further.

Director of Ceremonies,

The organisers of this Forum have made comprehensive arrangements so that the delegates can have access to information that is relevant and vital to investing in Namibia.  I urge the delegates to make use of the available information so that they can make informed decisions.  The Namibia Investment Guide that has been prepared as part of the literature for the Forum, should provide useful information to the delegates.

Similarly, those who need more clarification on specific projects are encouraged to visit the Project Centre that has been opened on these premises for the duration of the Forum.  A Project Book has also been compiled.  It provides basic details about various projects in different sectors of the economy.  I have no doubt that delegates will find these sources of information extremely useful.

Director of Ceremonies,

I take this opportunity to invite and encourage potential investors to come and invest in Namibia.  By investing in Namibia, investors will enjoy the benefits of peace and stability, clear and predictable laws, modern infrastructure and access to a broader regional market of more than 200 million consumers.  Your investment in Namibia will enable you to establish a foothold in the vibrant market of the Southern African Development Community and further beyond on the African continent.

We are pleased that you have all come to our country to explore investment opportunities.  I wish you all fruitful exchanges during this Forum, with a strong belief that we will see many of you again back in Namibia to implement investment projects.

It is now my honour to declare the Namibia International Investment Forum and Expo 2011 officially open.

I thank you.