About the Event

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a key instrument for advancing Africa’s regional integration agenda and accelerating trade, industrialization, economic diversification and sustainable development. Namibia signed the AfCFTA Agreement in July 2018 and ratified it in January 2019. In November 2022, the country launched its National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and established a National Implementation Committee to coordinate implementation. In June 2025, Namibia recorded an important milestone with the shipment of its first export consignment to Nigeria under the AfCFTA framework.

Notwithstanding this progress, many Namibian enterprises, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and women- and youth-owned businesses, continue to face challenges in accessing clear, reliable and consolidated information on AfCFTA trading procedures, regulatory requirements and documentation. Addressing these information gaps is critical to enabling the private sector to translate the opportunities created by the AfCFTA into increased production, exports and participation in regional and continental value chains.

Against this background, the Government of Namibia, through the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, in collaboration with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), and with technical support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and financial support from the Government of Japan, developed the Namibia Step-by-Step Guide to Trading Goods under the AfCFTA. The Guide provides practical and consolidated information on the processes and requirements for exporting and importing goods, including the key procedural steps, documentation requirements and institutions involved in the trading process. Its content also provided the basis for the development of a Trade Information Portal.

Following extensive stakeholder consultations and a validation workshop held in Windhoek on 5–6 February 2026, the Guide was finalized and made available in English. Its official launch represents an important step towards promoting wider dissemination, practical application and sustained uptake of the Guide by businesses, traders and public- and private-sector trade-support institutions.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Trading Goods under the AfCFTA

The Namibia Step-by-Step Guide to Trading Goods under the AfCFTA is designed as a practical tool to support Namibian enterprises and traders in navigating the requirements and procedures for exporting and importing goods under the AfCFTA.

The Guide maps general and product-specific regulatory requirements, outlines the procedural steps involved in cross-border trade, and provides practical illustrations of export and import procedures for selected products of importance to Namibia’s economy. It also provides contact information for relevant public- and private-sector trade institutions and identifies key trade-related laws and regulations applicable in Namibia.

By consolidating this information into a single, user-friendly resource, the Guide seeks to reduce information asymmetries, enhance transparency and facilitate greater participation of Namibian businesses, particularly MSMEs, women and youth entrepreneurs, in opportunities arising from the AfCFTA.

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the launch is to officially introduce and promote the Namibia Step-by-Step Guide to Trading Goods under the AfCFTA as a practical trade facilitation tool for enhancing the capacity of Namibian businesses to understand, navigate and comply with the requirements for exporting and importing goods under the AfCFTA.

The event will introduce the Guide to its intended users, demonstrate its practical application, and promote its use by businesses, traders and trade-support institutions as they prepare to take advantage of market opportunities under the AfCFTA.

Expected Results

The launch is expected to contribute to:

• Increased awareness and visibility of the Guide among Namibian businesses, traders and public- and private-sector trade-support institutions.
• Enhanced understanding of the regulatory requirements, documentation and procedures for trading goods under the AfCFTA, including the respective roles of institutions involved in the trading process.
• Improved capacity of businesses, particularly MSMEs and women- and youth-owned enterprises, to navigate the practical requirements associated with exporting and importing under the AfCFTA.
• Identification of priority follow-up actions to support effective utilization of the Guide, including wider dissemination, targeted awareness-raising, training programmes and business advisory services.
• Strengthened public-private sector collaboration in addressing practical barriers to trade and supporting effective implementation of the AfCFTA in Namibia.

Event Details

Date: Monday, 9 November 2026

Venue: Hilton Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia

Participants: Namibian businesses and traders, MSMEs, public- and private-sector trade-support institutions, and other relevant stakeholders

Organizers: Ministry of International Relations and Trade and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Technical Support: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), including ECA/RITD and ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA)

Financial Support: Government of Japan

Contacts

Further information and queries on the meeting and other matters should be addressed to:

Ms. Wilma Naukushu Guedegbe
Policy Analyst, Ministry of International Relations and Trade, Namibia.
Email: Wilma.Naukushu-Guedegbe@mirt.gov.na

Ms. Zodwa Florence Mabuza
Regional Advisor on Trade and Regional Integration
ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa, Lusaka, Zambia.
Email: zodwa.mabuza@un.org

Media Contact:

Ms. Lavender Degre
Communication Officer
ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa, Lusaka, Zambia.
Email: lavender.degre@un.org