UNGA opens doors … Namibia loses uranium investor
Namibia’s participation in last year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened the door to several investment opportunities, including a proposed Windhoek convention centre, energy and water projects and a uranium-processing plant. However, the uranium project was eventually cancelled because of delays in government approvals. The development provides a mixed picture of what President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s... The post UNGA opens doors … Namibia loses uranium investor appeared first on N
Namibia’s participation in last year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened the door to several investment opportunities, including a proposed Windhoek convention centre, energy and water projects and a uranium-processing plant.
However, the uranium project was eventually cancelled because of delays in government approvals.
The development provides a mixed picture of what President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s first UNGA achieved, with some engagements progressing into investment discussions while others remain at proposal or exploratory stages.
The Presidency confirmed that the president’s September 2025 visit to the United States included a major business component alongside her diplomatic engagements.
The Presidency, responding to questions from New Era, said the President’s visit to the United States in September 2025 was not limited to diplomatic meetings.
It included a strong business component aimed at attracting investment to Namibia and promoting Namibian goods and services.
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), working with the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, coordinated a Namibian business delegation that participated in the mission.
A total of 26 organisations and 35 delegates participated in the business mission, representing sectors including renewable energy, education, health, agriculture, film, tourism, oil and gas, transport and logistics and mining.
“Beyond the diplomatic engagements at the UNGA, President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s visit was strategically designed to incorporate a robust business component. The primary purpose of these engagements is to showcase Namibia’s investment potential and opportunities in trade and investment,” the Presidency said.
It added that the overall objective was to attract investment into Namibia, promote Namibian-made goods and services and strengthen economic ties with the United States.
“The overall objective of this mission was to attract investments into Namibia and promote the export of Namibian-made goods and services by showcasing our country’s unique opportunities, facilitating business-to-business engagements, and strengthening bilateral economic ties with the United States of America,” it said.
Among the investment opportunities generated was a proposal for a convention centre in Windhoek.
The Presidency said a US institutional investor and construction company facilitated business matchmaking during UNGA and subsequently submitted a development proposal for the convention centre, which is currently under review.
Another US institutional investor expressed strong interest in agriculture, energy, agro-processing and water infrastructure, and has already held exploratory meetings with local authorities and landowners.
Energy
A clean-energy company also proposed an eight-year Design-Finance-Operate-Transfer partnership to use excess energy for data centres.
Consultations on the proposal are continuing through NIPDB.
But while some investors moved into further discussions, Namibia also lost a potential uranium-processing project.
“A nuclear energy company intended to invest in a uranium processing plant for value addition but ultimately cancelled its plans due to extended waiting times for government approvals,” the Presidency stated.
The disclosure is significant because the government has repeatedly identified value addition as an important part of Namibia’s economic transformation.
“Value addition is viewed as a critical driver of industrialisation, economic diversification, employment creation, especially for young people, and inclusive socio-economic development,” the Presidency said.
The UNGA engagements also produced developments in the creative industries.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah launched the ‘Experience Namibia in New York’ event, which was used to showcase Namibia’s culture, tourism and export products while attracting international investors.
The event also launched the Namibia Film and Creative City initiative, which aims to position Namibia as a regional hub for film and creative industries.
Presidency said the concept was later approved by Cabinet, while an expression of interest process attracted three private-sector submissions.
However, the project has not yet reached implementation.
“The project is currently awaiting the formal establishment of the Steering Committee, which will provide overall strategic direction, interministerial coordination and policy oversight in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the Film and Creative City Project,” Presidency said.
The deadline for feedback to bidders has also been extended to 30 September 2026.
Another achievement was that the US-based biomass company also approached NIPDB to identify Namibian institutional investors for a US$2 million investment needed to expand its operations.
Presidency said the business engagements were, therefore, designed to create opportunities beyond the UNGA platform.
But the outcomes
