Windhoek: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on the mining industry to accelerate value addition and beneficiation, saying Namibia must derive greater economic returns from its mineral resources beyond extraction. Opening the 13th Chamber of Mines Mining Expo and Conference here Wednesday, Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed that Namibia's mineral wealth should create jobs, expand industries, and deliver broader economic benefits for citizens.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized the importance of value addition and local beneficiation to ensure shared prosperity with the people, the rightful owners of the resources. She highlighted Namibia's position as one of the world's leading uranium producers and urged the nation to view its uranium resources as a strategic national asset capable of supporting wider socio-economic development beyond mining.

The president reported that the mining sector contributed 14% to Namibia's gross domestic product and paid N$7.8 billion in taxes in 2025, compared to N$5.6 billion in 2024. She noted that through the Namibia Public-Private Forum, the industry committed to creating more than 18,000 direct jobs and facilitating an estimated US dollars 2.865 billion in new investment. However, she stressed that further progress was needed.

Nandi-Ndaitwah cited uranium projects by Bannerman Energy and Deep Yellow, which have already created more than 1,000 jobs, with more employment expected as the projects advance. She emphasized the government's commitment to working with the mining industry but highlighted the need for stakeholders to transition from commitments to implementation.

The president called for stakeholders to focus on implementation, accountability, and delivery, urging them to engage in honest discussions on progress, find solutions to challenges, and map a strategic and inclusive way forward that ensures measurable outcomes.