Staff Reporter
THE Founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Nangula Nelulu Uaandja, will officially step down on 31 December 2025, and the recruitment process for a new CEO will commence next year.
This was announced by the NIPDB Board in a statement, which also revealed that Jessica Hauuanga, who has served as NIPDB’s Executive of Investor Experience, will step in as Acting CEO until the appointment of a new CEO is finalised. The Board expressed confidence in Hauuanga’s capabilities to lead the NIPDB in the interim.
“Hauuanga has served as Executive: Investor Experience since 2021, and we have full confidence in Ms Hauuanga’s ability to lead the NIPDB during this transitional phase of its growth. We wish her every success in this role,” the NIPDB added.
The Board emphasised that, as the first CEO of the NIPDB, Dr. Uaandja played a crucial role in building the institution’s foundation, creating the strategy, systems, and processes on which its ongoing success is based.
“Dr. Uaandja has led the NIPDB through its formative years, leaving behind an impactful tenure characterised by exceptional vision, purposeful leadership, and agile execution of the institution’s mandate. The NIPDB was established at a time when Namibia found itself at an economic inflection point, a moment that required bold and agile leadership to drive the country’s economic diversification strategy and establish its relevance as an investment destination,” the NIPDB said.
According to the Board, under her leadership, the NIPDB established itself as a centre of excellence, which has become the hallmark of its work, characterised by a consistent pursuit of innovation and anchored by a highly capable and agile team.
“Under her tenure, the NIPDB has facilitated investment promotion activities in key markets around the world, with Namibia becoming a preferred and dynamic investment destination. These activities have been supported by the ongoing collective efforts of the government to improve the country’s competitiveness and the ease of doing business in Namibia, leading to enhanced investor and private sector confidence,” the Board added.
The Board credited Dr. Uaandja for driving an increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), with Namibia achieving a record N$48.2 billion in 2023, more than double the N$17.3 billion recorded in 2022.
“From 2021 to 2023, average FDI as a percentage of GDP was 12.10%, rising to 21% in 2023 – a level consistent with economies such as Singapore. Historically, Namibia’s FDI as a percentage of GDP was 7%. FDI Intelligence ranked Namibia first in Africa and second globally in the May 2025 Greenfield FDI Performance Index. The Index measures how effectively countries attract greenfield FDI relative to the size of their economies. In the 2025 ranking, Namibia advanced 10 places from the previous year, securing the top position on the continent,” the NIPDB Board added.
The Board also highlighted the NIPDB’s significant contributions to local business development, particularly by strengthening the capacity of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and enhancing their role in driving private sector activity and economic growth.
“Namibia’s collective efforts to optimise its entrepreneurial ecosystem have also gained international recognition. In the 2025 Global Start-up Ecosystem Index, Namibia’s start-up ecosystem was ranked 85th, improving from 87th the previous year. Notably, Windhoek recorded a significant 74% improvement, securing 4th place in the Southern Africa region,” the Board added.
The NIPDB also acknowledged Dr. Uaandja’s role in establishing and strengthening relationships with investors and stakeholders, ensuring that transparency, collaboration, and shared value remained at the core of the organisation’s operations. The Board credited her with bridging the gap between the private and public sectors, facilitating meaningful dialogue that advanced mutual priorities and contributed to the government’s development agenda, including job creation.
The recently concluded Namibia Public and Private Forum (NamPPF) was highlighted by the Board as a prime example of these efforts, aligning the Namibian business community with the national development agenda.
“Through her exemplary leadership over the past five years, Dr. Uaandja has built a strong foundation and leaves behind an institution that is strategically positioned to continue supporting the government’s economic development and diversification agenda. Under her guidance, the NIPDB has strengthened investor confidence in Namibia and is now well poised to positively shape the country’s global image,” the NIPDB stated.
Photos: Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board
