Namibia oen for business, says central bank

The Bank of Namibia (BoN) stepped into the spotlight this week, presenting a confident vision for the country's economic future as global headwinds and domestic structural challenges continue to test the resilience of emerging markets.

Delivering the keynote address, BoN deputy governor Leonie Dunn took centre stage at the 2026 Cirrus Investor Conference, positioning Namibia as a destination of opportunity amid an increasingly uncertain world.

The annual summit, organised by Cirrus Capital, has grown into one of Namibia's most significant gatherings of institutional investors, policymakers, and market participants.

Speaking under the theme "Confidence, Reform and Opportunity: Unlocking Namibia's Investment Potential," Dunn did not shy away from the scale of global disruption, telling delegates that "the global economy is not simply evolving, but being redefined." In such conditions, she argued, central banks bear a responsibility not only to maintain stability, but to anticipate change and actively enable growth.

On the domestic front, Dunn offered a measured outlook. Economic recovery is expected to gain momentum over the medium term, underpinned by stronger activity in construction, utilities, and public investment. Yet she was candid about the hurdles ahead, stressing that lasting growth would require meaningful diversification and the development of new productive sectors. She also raised concern over the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in neighbouring countries, warning of potential spillover risks to Namibia's agricultural exports.

Inflation, too, emerged as a live concern. Dunn cautioned that oil price swings driven by geopolitical tensions, alongside domestic fuel price increases taking effect in April 2026, could exert upward pressure on prices and force significant revisions to current forecasts.

Against this backdrop, the Bank outlined an ambitious modernisation agenda. A new Instant Payments Solution promises real-time, affordable digital transactions and broader financial inclusion. A Central Securities Depository is set to sharpen market transparency and deepen liquidity, while a Gold Acquisition Programme signals a deliberate push to diversify the country's reserve holdings.