Staff Reporter
THE Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT), together with its agencies, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Namibia Trade Forum (NTF), is participating in the 3rd Invest in Africa 2026 Trade Expo and Business Summit currently underway in Swakopmund.
The event, hosted by the Africa Economic Leadership Council from 28 to 30 May 2026 at the Municipal Tennis Court next to the Strand Hotel, focuses on advancing continental economic integration and unlocking opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to organisers, the summit seeks to develop practical and market-driven approaches to implementing the AfCFTA framework while promoting trade, investment, and industrial growth across the continent.
Photos: Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation-Namibia
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of International Relations and Trade, Ambassador Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, said Africa can no longer afford to depend heavily on external markets while intra-African trade remains low.
“For far too long, African economies have relied heavily on external markets for trade. Hence, intra-African trade remained extremely low, only about 16%,” Ashipala-Musavyi said.
She stressed that the AfCFTA presents Africa with an opportunity to reshape its economic future through deeper regional integration, industrialisation, and market access.
“The time for talking about Africa’s prospects and possibilities is over. Africa is now implementing one of the largest economic integration projects in modern history – the African Continental Free Trade Area. It is critical that we imbibe the AfCFTA not merely as a trade agreement, but Africa’s blueprint for unity, industrialisation, economic transformation and shared prosperity,” she said.
Ashipala-Musavyi further described the AfCFTA as Africa’s “last resort for economic sovereignty,” particularly at a time when geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, and increasing global competition for Africa’s mineral resources continue to affect developing economies.
She noted that despite Africa having the world’s largest continental free trade area and between 60% and 70% of the world’s arable land, the continent still trades very little within itself.
Following the official proceedings, the minister toured various exhibition stalls and engaged exhibitors participating in the summit.
