Namibia: Namibia exported its first 45,000 tonnes of salt to Nigeria under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement in June 2025, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced on Wednesday. Delivering her State of the Nation Address, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that this shipment marks the beginning of new market opportunities for Namibian products across Africa.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the president highlighted that the government has undertaken extensive outreach programs in all 14 regions to boost local participation in the AfCFTA single market. These consultations included regional leaders, the private sector, and youth entrepreneurs, all aimed at raising awareness of the trade opportunities available under the continental framework.
"This marks the start of new markets for Namibian products," the Head of State stated. Nandi-Ndaitwah further noted that Namibian businesses have secured access to both regional and international markets for a variety of other products. These include marula and essential oils in the cosmetics sector, mutton and seal oil in China, dates in Canada and India, pasta in Zambia, and hides in Kenya.
The initiatives are part of broader efforts to strengthen trade partnerships, promote peaceful coexistence, and support inclusive economic growth. In a related development, the National Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Norwegian company to establish a N.dollars 2.5 billion joint venture for large-scale salmon farming in Namibia.
The salmon farming project, to be located along the country's southern coast, will focus on Atlantic salmon production and is expected to produce between 1,000 and 51,000 tonnes over seven years. Nandi-Ndaitwah remarked that the fishing sector remains a key part of the economy and is one of the eight critical economic enablers supporting national development. She added that the government is committed to science-based fisheries management to safeguard the sector, especially in light of recent stock assessments indicating growing pressure on several commercially important species.