Namibia’s logistics sector under pressure to improve as trade volumes grow

NAMIBIA – As Namibia draws growing attention as a gateway for regional trade, experts in the logistics sector are calling for swift improvements to support this growth.

They say that without faster and more reliable systems, the country could lose out on valuable business.

Harold Schmidt, secretary general of the Namibia Logistics Association (NLA), said now is not the time to sit back.

“With more cargo expected to move through the country, we must ensure our systems, infrastructure and regulatory frameworks are geared for speed, reliability and cost-effectiveness,” he said.

He stressed that the logistics chain must run as smoothly as possible. Every step that adds unnecessary cost or delay needs to be removed.

“It is not in our – or the region’s – interests to have non-tariff barriers (NTBs) on our corridors. The goal is to have cargo moving as quickly and efficiently as possible, at a cost-competitive price,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt also raised concerns about rules that affect how goods move across countries. One recent change in Botswana’s cargo clearing system has already created delays and raised costs.

He pointed to the removal of the Received-in-Transit (RIT) option, which previously allowed consolidated shipments to move under one entry. The new rule now requires separate clearance, slowing movement along an important corridor.

“We are currently dealing with an issue that has caused significant cost and time delays on one corridor. If a three-country bloc cannot resolve this, how are we ever going to expand intra-regional trade further north,” he said.

He warned that if other countries copy Botswana’s approach without considering the wider impact, cross-border trade could become unaffordable.

Solutions needed now

To move forward, Schmidt said countries need to take clear steps to remove NTBs. He also supported the use of preclearance systems to stop delays at borders.

“There are solutions available that can enable efficient, cost-effective trade – but it will require countries to work together to implement harmonised systems, procedures, policies, and regulations that speak to each other,” he said.

He added that Namibia had made good progress in presenting itself as a trade option, but that more effort was needed to turn interest into action.

“We have to think out of the box to truly take advantage of the many opportunities that currently exist. As a country, Namibia has done an excellent job in promoting itself as a viable trade option. But to make this a reality, we must ensure the necessary policies are in place and that we implement processes that deliver on that promise.”

Earlier this month, Namibia’s Walvis Bay Corridor Group confirmed that cargo volumes through the port of Walvis Bay rose by 18% over the past year. The group plans to expand infrastructure to meet expected growth in demand.

Logistics operators hope that strong planning and clear regional coordination will keep Namibia’s trade engine moving forward.

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