NIPDB message of condolences following the untimely passing of H.E. President Dr Hage Gottfried Geingob
On Sunday, 04 February 2024, the Namibian nation woke up to the painful news of the untimely death of His Excellency President Hage Gottfried Geingob, who passed away in a local hospital in Windhoek, surrounded by his wife and children.
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) hereby extends our most sincere condolences to President Geingob’s family and the rest of the Namibian nation.
President Geingob was a respected leader among his peers and the chief architect of Namibia’s constitution, which has remained the governing instrument and cornerstone of our democracy and political stability for over 30 years. In this difficult moment, we pay tribute to a visionary leader who embodied a palpable commitment to nation building, who led with humility and an enduring passion for the wellbeing of his people.
His Excellency Dr. Hage Geingob valued efficiency and stability. He has often emphasised that Namibia “is not a one-man show” and his legacy is rooted in his belief and ethos that Namibia is a country that is efficiently run through systems, processes and institutions. As we navigate this difficult time of transition, we assure our partners and stakeholders across the world of our commitment to upholding the legacy of President Hage Geingob and his commitment to the rule of law, transparency and accountability through efficient Government mechanisms.
Furthermore, we are honoured to serve H.E. President Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, who embodies the same principles and dedication as President Geingob, to advance Namibia as a viable investment destination. Namibia remains open for business, and the NIPDB’s mandate to promote and facilitate sustainable investments into the country, remains our enduring commitment and a fitting tribute to honour the legacy of our late president.
In this regard, we would like to assure all our stakeholders that the NIPDB’s operations will continue, with due sensitivity and respect to the current state of affairs in the country. In the coming days, we anticipate the government to make formal announcements pertaining to the national protocols to be observed during the period of mourning leading up to President Geingob’s funeral.
While we endeavour to maintain our usual level of service during this time, we request your patience in the event that disruptions are experienced, and we thank you in advance for your understanding.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact:
Margareth Gustavo
Executive Director: Strategy & Branding
Phone: +264 (0) 83 333 8630
Mobile: +264 (0) 81 125 4359
Email: margareth.gustavo@nipdb.com
François van Schalkwyk
Executive Director: Investment & New Ventures
Phone: +264 (0) 83 333 8620
Mobile: +264 (0) 81 142 6216
Email: francois.vanschalkwyk@nipdb.com
Catherine Shipushu
Senior Manager: Communications, Marketing, Branding
Phone: +264 (0) 83 333 8636
Mobile: +264 (0) 81 1279069
Email: catherine.shipushu@nipdb.com
Issued by:
Nangula Uaandja
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer
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In partnership with the Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Namibia, the NIPDB hosted an “Invest in Namibia Summit” on the margins of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
Building on the significant interest Namibia attracted on account of recent oil and gas discoveries and green hydrogen projects that have placed Namibia on the radar of investors, the summit was needed to amplify Namibia as a preferred investment destination and attract investment into other sectors of the economy, such as green hydrogen, agriculture, tourism and mining, in addition to further investment in oil and gas. RMB’s partnership was therefore invaluable to foster awareness of Namibian opportunities to the international community towards increased investment interest.
In collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), NIPDB is developing the Namibia Sustainable Supplier Database (SD2). This database comprises an online, centralised repository of information about domestic companies that aims to support domestic and international investors to identify potential suppliers, service providers, or business partners in Namibia.
This initiative is expected to create a triple benefit as follows:
The Know2Grow (K2G) High Potential Pool is designed to assist in expanding the activities of export-ready micro and small businesses with significant potential for exporting their products. In 2023, Nedbank Namibia, First National Bank Namibia and Bank Windhoek made a generous pledge of N$300,000 to support the High Potential Pool.
More than 20 export-ready MSMEs from the K2G-High Potential Pool have participated. They were selected to take part in international events focusing on market access and export promotion, including the Annual Investment Meeting held in Abu Dhabi in May 2023, the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, and the Southern Africa International Trade Expo (SAITEX) as part of Africa’s Big 7 exhibition held in Johannesburg in May and June 2023, respectively.