TIRI MASAWI
Namibia’s economy has grown by N$80 billion in the past five years , President Netunmbo NandI Ndaitwah has said.
Announcing her second State of the Nation Address on Wednesday President Nandi -Ndaitwajh said, “ Over the past five years, GDP has grown from N$190 billion to N$270 billion, with tax revenue rising from N$55 billion to N$76 billion, a compounded growth rate of 9%, sustaining a tax-to-GDP ratio of 30.5% and placing Namibia among Africa’s top three.”
The President however said the government faces fiscal pressures and competing budget priorities, requiring careful resource allocation to balance immediate needs with long-term development goals.
She said there is also an urgent need to expand the domestic revenue base to secure sustainable funding for public services and strategic investments.
According to the President, the economy’s ongoing reliance on primary sectors highlights the need to improve economic diversification efforts to strengthen resilience and lessen exposure to external shocks.
“Capacity constraints in implementing reforms and digital systems continue to pose a challenge, necessitating ongoing investment in skills development, institutional strengthening, and technology adoption.
“The government remains dedicated to tackling these challenges through coordinated policy measures, institutional reforms, and stakeholder involvement, thereby creating a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready economy for all Namibians,” she said.
The President said Namibia is making progress in food self-sufficiency by reducing the country’s reliance on imported food items by 80% by 2030.
“During the period under review, Namibia exported agricultural products worth N$2 billion, totaling about 90,000 metric tons. Of this amount, 62%
consisted of table grapes, while 14% were tomatoes.
“Local fruit production grew from 4% to 6%. Namibia held a 56% market share in vegetables 1644. 45. 46. valued at N$323 million, compared to imported vegetables at 44%, valued at N$257 million,” she said.
The President noted that while much remains to be done to maximize national benefits from the Green Scheme, some progress has been achieved.
She said during the review period, a total of 6,758.65 metric tons of maize were
harvested from 1,133.38 hectares, generating N$56.9 million. Also, 609 hectares of wheat planted have yielded N$10.5 million.
“The Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) produced a variety of agricultural and livestock products, including white and yellow maize, wheat, lucerne, vegetables, fruits, pork, beef, mutton, goat meat, chicken, and eggs, valued at N$22.6 million,” she said.
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