Namibia is increasingly recognised as one of Africa’s most promising business destinations, as interest in the desert country gains momentum. With its first female president ushering in a new era of leadership and reform, logistics experts are preparing for a sharp rise in trade activity and infrastructure demand.“It is definitely not business as usual,” said Tautinge Festus, business development director of Pindulo Logistics. “We are seeing major developments in the oil and gas sectors, while the green hydrogen sector is also taking off. The decision by the president to house oil and gas in her office signals just how strategically important these sectors have become for Namibia’s economic future.”Growing foreign direct investment (FDI) is another clear indicator of rising investor confidence across multiple sectors in Namibia. In 2023, the country attracted $2.61 billion in FDI – more than double the $1.06bn recorded the previous year. The largest contributions came from China (29.6%), South Africa (22.4%), the United Kingdom (9.4%) and Mauritius (6.8%).“There are several factors in our favour,” said Festus. “Beyond the stable economic environment, the country is exceptionally safe and boasts solid infrastructure. Combined with a deliberate national strategy to grow the market and position Namibia as a logistics hub, we’ve seen the country emerge as a prominent player.” He added that ongoing corridor development had further strengthened this positioning, with Wa lv i s Bay now the preferred port for connecting Namibia to the broader southern African region.According to Festus, Pindulo Logistics continues to invest heavily in its Namibian operations, expanding its footprint to meet growing market demand. “For us, the business is growing steadily, and we’ve recently added a back-of-port warehouse facility. It comes with 2 500 square metres under roof, with an additional 5 000 square metres of open yard space – giving us a total of 7 500 square metres. We’re also in the process of acquiring a second back-of-port warehouse facility spanning 13 000 square metres, of which 7 000 will be under roof, using a rent-to-own model.”The company already operates two warehouses within the port precinct and is planning further expansion. “We’ve secured clients for the new space and have recently acquired a high-performance bagging machine that can handle both 50kg and one-ton bags, with a capacity of 60 tonnes per hour – currently the fastest of its kind on the market,” Festus said. Initially dedicated to fertiliser, the machine can also be utilised to bag import sulphur, offering f lexibility and efficiency.“This is an exciting time for us,” he added. “There’s always something new and innovative happening. We’re continuously investing in equipment and expanding our capabilities to stay ahead of demand.” LV
