NAMIBIA BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH FIRST AfCFTA EXPORT, SIGNALING SHIFT TO CONTINENTAL TRADE POWER

Namibia launched its first export under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), marking a major step toward deeper continental integration.

Namibia Export Africa’s single market initiative Africa Afcfta protocol.

Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi

Namibia has made a definitive leap toward continental economic integration with the launch of its first export under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), heralding a new era in its trade policy beyond regional limits.

In a landmark ceremony held in the coastal city of Walvis Bay, Namibia flagged off its maiden AfCFTA export, a consignment of salt, marking its official entry into Africa’s single market initiative. This pioneering shipment underscores the country’s strategic pivot from a regionally focused trade strategy towards a broader continental outlook.

Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, described the event as a defining moment. “Today marks the beginning of a journey that seeks to position Namibia to take full advantage of Africa’s single market,” she said.

While Namibia has historically traded within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), this first AfCFTA export marks a conscious effort to engage with markets in North, West, and Central Africa. It’s a step toward maximising the potential of the AfCFTA, which aims to create a $3.4 trillion market of over 1.4 billion people.

After signing the AfCFTA agreement in 2018 and ratifying it in early 2019, Namibia took a major step on 20 December 2024 by gazetting its AfCFTA tariff offer, a necessary move to enable official trading under the framework.

Choosing salt as the inaugural export reflects Namibia’s intent to capitalise on its natural resources and strategic location. The Walvis Bay port, already a key trade hub for Southern Africa, is poised to become a gateway for wider continental access.

With over 90% of Namibia’s exports currently going to South Africa and other SADC states, the AfCFTA opens doors to a diversified customer base and a chance to boost economic competitiveness.

Despite ongoing challenges, including infrastructure gaps, tariff alignment issues, and non-tariff barriers, Namibia’s early participation could offer advantages such as first-mover market entry and improved investor perception.

As more countries activate trade under the AfCFTA protocol, Namibia’s proactive engagement could catalyze others and solidify its position as a committed player in Africa’s economic transformation.

This first shipment is not just a trade transaction; it’s a signal of Namibia’s commitment to a new economic vision: one that is inclusive, resilient, and firmly rooted in a pan-African future.

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NAMIBIA BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH FIRST AfCFTA EXPORT, SIGNALING SHIFT TO CONTINENTAL TRADE POWER

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