Swakopmund:The Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAiTEX) has made its much-anticipated return to Swakopmund after a two-year hiatus. The event, which began on Thursday, aims to bring together businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to explore opportunities in trade, investment, and industrial development.
According to NAMPA, the expo, established in 2013 and hosted by the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), is taking place from October 22 to 24, 2026, at The Dome. Themed 'Powering Africa's Next Economy Innovation, Inclusion and Industrial Growth,' this year's edition marks the expo's 10th anniversary. It provides a platform for businesses to showcase their products and services, establish commercial partnerships, and engage with potential investors.
Swakopmund branch chairperson Caroline Maswabi-Sibungo emphasized that SWAiTEX is more than just a conventional trade exhibition, describing it as an economic engine focused on structured deal-making. She noted that the expo aims to bring local business owners into direct contact with decision-makers, investors, and policymakers. The event is designed to help businesses sign contracts, access investment, and expand beyond Namibia's borders under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Maswabi-Sibungo highlighted that the expo seeks to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by enhancing their visibility, expanding market access, and creating opportunities for networking with established businesses and international trade partners. The programme includes exhibitions, business networking, business-to-business engagements, and discussions on trade policy, investment, and economic development.
Addressing the issue of youth unemployment, Maswabi-Sibungo stated that the solution lies in enabling young people to build scalable enterprises. She explained that providing young entrepreneurs with the tools to use artificial intelligence and digital technologies can make their businesses more efficient and capable of hiring others.
The NCCI is actively working to remove structural barriers that affect young entrepreneurs and SMEs, pushing for local-content integration to ensure major industrial projects reserve specific subcontracts for youth-owned businesses. The official opening of SWAiTEX is scheduled for Friday, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expected to officiate.
Source NAMPA