Windhoek: The Namibia Trade Forum (NTF) and the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy (NIFA) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening stakeholder cooperation and enhancing the trade readiness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

According to Namibia Press Agency, NTF Acting Chief Executive Officer Rodney !Hoaeb emphasized that the partnership gives practical effect to Namibia's trade competitiveness objectives. He highlighted that despite Namibia's engagement in several continental trade agreements, many local enterprises are not fully prepared to leverage these opportunities due to existing regulatory, institutional, and capacity-related challenges.

!Hoaeb pointed out the significant gap between the trade agreements Namibia has signed at the continental level and the ability of local enterprises to act upon them. He described this gap as largely regulatory, interpretive, and institutional. The partnership between NTF and NIFA aims to address these issues, making it structurally significant for the country's trade landscape.

He further explained that NIFA's focus on MSME capacity building, investment readiness, and market access complements NTF's role in trade policy. This synergy will help bridge the gap between policy and enterprise capability, enhancing MSME trade readiness and aligning enterprise competitiveness with regional and continental trade requirements.

In a speech read on behalf of NIFA Chief Executive Officer Arinze Okafor, the MoU was characterized as a strategic effort to tackle structural challenges within Namibia's MSME ecosystem. Okafor stated that while NIFA focuses on building enterprise capability, the Namibia Trade Forum translates policy into industry-relevant insights. Together, they aim to create a comprehensive approach to closing the existing gaps.

Okafor clarified that the MoU serves as a non-binding, non-exclusive, and open-ended framework to guide future collaborative initiatives. These initiatives include programmes focused on trade readiness, implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), MSME capacity development, and market access preparation.