Companies in the freight and logistics landscape are not complaining – Namibia is booming like never before. Long considered a strategic hub, the country has seen a marked increase in activity across its ports, road corridors and warehousing sectors.The surge in business is luring new competitors and attracting the attention of multinational logistics companies, all eager to claim their share of a growing market. “It’s keeping us on our toes,” says Cronje Grane, general manager of Woker Freight Services. “But the pie has always been big enough for everyone – and it’s only getting bigger.”Woker has been on a determined diversification drive in recent years. Historically known as a one-stop shop, the company continues to provide a broad range of logistics solutions tailored to Namibia’s operating environment. “That’s been a big part of our success,” says Grane. “In Namibia, the market size is limited, so you’ve always had to be a bit of everything – and ready for anything out of the ordinary.”Ongoing investment in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Botswana has increased pressure on the traditional ports serving the hinterland. Meanwhile, congestion in East Africa and the well-documented challenges facing South Africa’s ports have positioned Walvis Bay as an increasingly attractive alternative.“We’ve seen a real increase in volumes moving through Namibia,” notes Grane. “One of the biggest challenges right now is simply keeping up with the demand. We’ve gone from an environment where delays were virtually unheard of to one where vessels now have to wait to berth due to the sheer volume of a c t iv it y.”To keep pace, Woker is reconfiguring its operations. The company is in the process of repurposing a 60 000-square-metre site – previously used as an empty container depot – into open storage. “We’ve moved that function out of our business, given notice, and the transition is already under way,” explains Grane. “That space will now support much-needed open storage as volumes continue to grow.”This operational shift is backed by a clear focus on three key enablers: skills development, expanded storage capacity, and investment in equipment – particularly stevedoring gear and backup assets for back-of-port operations.Despite the progress, Grane is quick to highlight a critical challenge facing the industry: a shortage of specialised skills. “We need far more structured skills transfer and training across various segments – oil and gas, offshore logistics, and technology,” he says. “Right now, we’re on the back foot. There’s a strong push for local content, but that doesn’t happen overnight. There needs to be a realistic transition period.”He argues that skills development, rather than compliance-driven localisation, should be the primary focus. “What Namibia needs is a well-designed skills transfer programme – not just a localisation drive,” Grane emphasises. “We can work with a fixed number of work permits in the short term, but that must be linked to real training initiatives so that Namibians are equipped to take on these roles in the long run.”Grane believes collaboration between the private sector, government, and international logistics players is essential. “It’s about where we want to be in the next five to ten years – and how we start building that capacity now,” he says.“As Namibia’s role as a regional logistics hub continues to grow, the challenge and opportunity lie in ensuring that skills, infrastructure and investment keep pace with demand.” LV
