Namibia on Davos stage
Investment in global spotlight
The WEF brings together influential figures, key decision-makers and some of the biggest investors from all over the world.
Jo-Maré Duddy
Promenade 61, Davos Platz is the place to be if you’re one of the 2 000 plus global business leaders attending the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the ski resort of Davos-Klosters in Switzerland this week.
This is the address of Namibia House, where an array of the country’s investment opportunities, especially green hydrogen, will be showcased by a high-powered public and private delegation spearheaded by President Hage Geingob.
This is the first time ever Namibia has been invited to participate in the annual meeting of the WEF.
“An invitation to Davos comes with immense benefits for Namibia, primarily to showcase the country’s investment potential to global leaders and some of the wealthiest nations and entrepreneurs in the world. Namibia’s presence at WEF underscores the country’s ability to contribute towards setting the international agenda, particularly in the area of renewable energy which underpinned the invitation to the forum,” Geingob’s office said in a statement this weekend.
Namibia will be attending following an invitation from Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the WEF, to showcase its green hydrogen potential and strategy.
In addition, other key sectors have been identified for investment promotion at the WEF - infrastructure, transport and logistics, tourism, agriculture, as well as oil and gas.
“Several high level events have been planned to showcase these sectors to potential investors. These include positioning the country as a strategic logistics hub serving as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and unveiling several large infrastructural projects to both domestic and foreign investors,” the Presidency said in its statement.
CLEAR AGENDA
According to the statement: “Namibia is headed to Davos with a clear agenda to announce that the country is open for business, present high value investment opportunities in identified sectors and engage with potential investors with the aim of stimulating foreign direct investment needed to enable the country to build a strong, private sector led economy and inclusive growth that drives employment creation and other economic opportunities for Namibians.”
Nangula Uaandja, the chief executive officer of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) has been tasked with facilitating the country’s participation at WEF.
Said Uaandja: “As an emerging market, Namibia has unlimited potential and holds economic promise for both investors and the country’s people. The high level of unemployment and sustained economic contraction, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has accelerated the need for our country to boost investment promotion in order to stimulate economic recovery.”
She continued: “The World Economic Forum brings together influential figures, key decision makers and some of the biggest investors from all over the world, and we are going there with a clear and collective objective of harnessing the opportunity to make a case for why Namibia is a viable investment destination.”
She added that foreign direct investment (FDI) is crucial because it can help the country to deliver sustainable economic growth and opportunities for all Namibians.
PROGRAMME
Following a welcoming event at Namibia House last night, today will see pilot project announcements on green hydrogen. Investment-ready projects will be presented, while a reconciliation of oil and gas as opposing commitments will be discussed.
Other discussions will focus on enabling a rapid transition to a more globally competitive Namibia, and the funding gap for infrastructure development in the country.
Tuesday will be devoted to discussions and presentations regrading green hydrogen, hosted by Geingob. Speakers include finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi, mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo, as well as Namibia’s green hydrogen commissioner and presidential economic advisor, James Mnyupe.
Topics included in Wednesday’s agenda are agricultural and tourism opportunities in Namibia, as well as the promotion of continental development through the country’s infrastructure and logistics.
The green hydrogen conversation continues on Thursday, while Namibia as a dynamic link in global supply chains will also feature. The evening will be concluded by a presidential dinner.
Tuesday to Thursday will also be characterised by daily business-to-government, as well as business-to-business meetings.
WORLD LEADERS
The WEF is an international organisation that was started with the aim to ‘improve the state of the world’. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WEF brings together world leaders in business, politics, arts and academia amongst others to discuss major issues that impact the global economy. These include, but are not limited to, political, economic, social, and environmental concerns.
The innovative ideas and best practices learned in Davos will be valuable for Namibia to improve her competitiveness in this modern economy, the Presidency said in its statement.
According to the WEF, “The Annual Meeting 2022 will embody the World Economic Forum’s philosophy of collaborative, multi-stakeholder impact, providing a unique collaborative environment in which to reconnect, share insights, gain fresh perspectives, and build problem-solving communities and initiatives. Against a backdrop of deepening global frictions and fractures, it will be the starting point for a new era of global responsibility and cooperation”.
The WEF mentioned in a statement that some of the topics to be discussed at the annual meeting will include the restoration of global order and regional cooperation, securing the economic recovery and shaping a new era of growth, building healthy and equitable societies, safeguarding climate, food and nature, driving industry transformation, and harnessing the power of the fourth industrial revolution.
Promenade 61, Davos Platz is the place to be if you’re one of the 2 000 plus global business leaders attending the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the ski resort of Davos-Klosters in Switzerland this week.
This is the address of Namibia House, where an array of the country’s investment opportunities, especially green hydrogen, will be showcased by a high-powered public and private delegation spearheaded by President Hage Geingob.
This is the first time ever Namibia has been invited to participate in the annual meeting of the WEF.
“An invitation to Davos comes with immense benefits for Namibia, primarily to showcase the country’s investment potential to global leaders and some of the wealthiest nations and entrepreneurs in the world. Namibia’s presence at WEF underscores the country’s ability to contribute towards setting the international agenda, particularly in the area of renewable energy which underpinned the invitation to the forum,” Geingob’s office said in a statement this weekend.
Namibia will be attending following an invitation from Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the WEF, to showcase its green hydrogen potential and strategy.
In addition, other key sectors have been identified for investment promotion at the WEF - infrastructure, transport and logistics, tourism, agriculture, as well as oil and gas.
“Several high level events have been planned to showcase these sectors to potential investors. These include positioning the country as a strategic logistics hub serving as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and unveiling several large infrastructural projects to both domestic and foreign investors,” the Presidency said in its statement.
CLEAR AGENDA
According to the statement: “Namibia is headed to Davos with a clear agenda to announce that the country is open for business, present high value investment opportunities in identified sectors and engage with potential investors with the aim of stimulating foreign direct investment needed to enable the country to build a strong, private sector led economy and inclusive growth that drives employment creation and other economic opportunities for Namibians.”
Nangula Uaandja, the chief executive officer of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) has been tasked with facilitating the country’s participation at WEF.
Said Uaandja: “As an emerging market, Namibia has unlimited potential and holds economic promise for both investors and the country’s people. The high level of unemployment and sustained economic contraction, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has accelerated the need for our country to boost investment promotion in order to stimulate economic recovery.”
She continued: “The World Economic Forum brings together influential figures, key decision makers and some of the biggest investors from all over the world, and we are going there with a clear and collective objective of harnessing the opportunity to make a case for why Namibia is a viable investment destination.”
She added that foreign direct investment (FDI) is crucial because it can help the country to deliver sustainable economic growth and opportunities for all Namibians.
PROGRAMME
Following a welcoming event at Namibia House last night, today will see pilot project announcements on green hydrogen. Investment-ready projects will be presented, while a reconciliation of oil and gas as opposing commitments will be discussed.
Other discussions will focus on enabling a rapid transition to a more globally competitive Namibia, and the funding gap for infrastructure development in the country.
Tuesday will be devoted to discussions and presentations regrading green hydrogen, hosted by Geingob. Speakers include finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi, mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo, as well as Namibia’s green hydrogen commissioner and presidential economic advisor, James Mnyupe.
Topics included in Wednesday’s agenda are agricultural and tourism opportunities in Namibia, as well as the promotion of continental development through the country’s infrastructure and logistics.
The green hydrogen conversation continues on Thursday, while Namibia as a dynamic link in global supply chains will also feature. The evening will be concluded by a presidential dinner.
Tuesday to Thursday will also be characterised by daily business-to-government, as well as business-to-business meetings.
WORLD LEADERS
The WEF is an international organisation that was started with the aim to ‘improve the state of the world’. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WEF brings together world leaders in business, politics, arts and academia amongst others to discuss major issues that impact the global economy. These include, but are not limited to, political, economic, social, and environmental concerns.
The innovative ideas and best practices learned in Davos will be valuable for Namibia to improve her competitiveness in this modern economy, the Presidency said in its statement.
According to the WEF, “The Annual Meeting 2022 will embody the World Economic Forum’s philosophy of collaborative, multi-stakeholder impact, providing a unique collaborative environment in which to reconnect, share insights, gain fresh perspectives, and build problem-solving communities and initiatives. Against a backdrop of deepening global frictions and fractures, it will be the starting point for a new era of global responsibility and cooperation”.
The WEF mentioned in a statement that some of the topics to be discussed at the annual meeting will include the restoration of global order and regional cooperation, securing the economic recovery and shaping a new era of growth, building healthy and equitable societies, safeguarding climate, food and nature, driving industry transformation, and harnessing the power of the fourth industrial revolution.
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