The inaugural Agriculture Investment Conference & Expo will bring together government, financial institutions, investors, farmers, entrepreneurs and agricultural organisations to explore practical ways to increase investment and strengthen Namibia’s agricultural sector.
The two-day conference, which will take place from today until tomorrow at the Windhoek Movenpick Hotel, will provide a platform to discuss ways to attract private investment, including predictable policies, clear project information, workable financing arrangements and developing confidence in infrastructure and markets.
One of the conference coordinators Tiree Ngaujake said discussions and presentations will over the two days put emphasis on the “cluster module”, an approach used in the Middle East and other countries that aims to include women, young people and smallholder farmers in agricultural production and business.
“The conference’s ambition of attracting between N$1 billion and N$10 billion annually is a long-term target, not funding already secured. Participants are expected to explore partnerships and investment opportunities, while project-pitching sessions will give local enterprises a chance to present proposals to potential financiers and strategic partners, said Ngaujake.
Water security and climate resilience are among the issues identified for discussion. In a country vulnerable to water scarcity and climate change, participants are expected to consider how investment can support responsible water usage, sustainable production and long-term agricultural productivity.
She also said the conference will examine opportunities to expand local production, promote Namibian products and reduce reliance on imports.
“Reaching the country’s ambition of cutting the agricultural import bill by at least 50% would require investment across the value chain, including processing, storage and market access. Other potential investment areas include agro-processing, irrigation, packaging and cold-storage facilities,” she highlighted.
Ngaujake stated that connecting producers with investors and partners will be their biggest focal point, as that could help businesses add value to their products, improve competitiveness and retain more economic value in Namibia.
She also shared that a formal post-event monitoring framework has not been specified, which will track funding secured, projects implemented and jobs created to help assess whether commitments made at the event translate into measurable results.
“The ultimate goal is to build a more competitive agricultural sector that contributes to sustainable food security, economic growth and employment creation. The Rural Women in Agriculture Association speaks about the need for empower rural communities by bringing in more investments to all communities. This aligns with the conference’s broader vision of increasing local production, reducing dependence on imports and retaining more economic value within Namibia,” she explained.
– ohembapu@nepc.com.na
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