Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

What Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board does

The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) is a statutory government agency of the Republic of Namibia, established in January 2021 to succeed the Namibia Investment Centre. Operating from Windhoek with 51-100 employees, it holds an exclusive mandate to coordinate investment promotion and MSME development across the economy, serving both foreign investors and local enterprises. The agency functions as a one-stop-shop, offering end-to-end services spanning exploratory investor visits, business registration facilitation through the Investor One-Stop Centre (linked to BIPA, NamRA, MEFT and other ministries), visa and permit assistance (including the Digital Nomad Visa), licensing, and partnership brokering. Its primary customer segments are foreign investors, local investors, MSMEs (across Access to Finance, Access to Markets, Capacity Building and Ideation verticals), and employers benefiting from the National Internship Programme and Youth Tax Allowance.

The agency's product portfolio combines digital platforms with in-person programmes: the In4MSME mobile application (Android/iOS) connects MSMEs with potential clients and investors; the Study Opportunities Portal aggregates scholarships and bursaries; the Sustainable Supplier Database and Namibia Startup Information Hub provide discovery infrastructure; and flagship programmes include Know2Grow (MSME support), Chelete Cage (pitch competition), TechNovation Social (creative industries), ScaleUp Namibia (18-member startup hub network) and the SME Fund (implemented via ProSME with GIZ and NPC). It also runs the Cabinet-approved Namibia Public-Private Forum and the TalentsBridge Germany-Namibia pilot for international workforce development.

NIPDB's business model is government-funded rather than commercial: it does not charge fees for investor support services and generates no revenue from product sales. Operating funding derives from the Namibian national budget plus development partner grants, with the SME Fund financed under the ProSME Project in partnership with GIZ and the National Planning Commission. Its go-to-market blends sales-led facilitation (direct enterprise engagement through the One-Stop Centre and Executive Investor Experience team) with event-driven promotion at national and global venues (Africa Hospitality Investment Forum 2024, Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026, 3rd AU SME Forum, Tokyo TICAD, Global Africa Hydrogen Summit). Distribution is anchored by the Windhoek headquarters, the 18-member ScaleUp hub network, and partnerships with international development agencies (GIZ, UNDP, ILO) and corporate sponsors (Bank Windhoek, FNB, Hollard, De Beers, MSC Cruises).

Name

Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

Legal name

Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

Website

https://nipdb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) is a statutory government agency, established 2021, that facilitates foreign and domestic investment, operates an Investor One-Stop Centre in Windhoek, and coordinates MSME development across Namibia using government budget and grant funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Promotion Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), All Other Support Services (561990)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA), National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC)

Keywords

• Investment promotion services
• MSME development
• Investor facilitation
• Business registration support
• Economic development agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Windhoek

HQ country

Namibia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Operations: As a government agency, NIPDB operates through government funding and does not generate revenue from commercial activities. The organization focuses on attracting investment and developing MSMEs as part of its statutory mandate.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NIPDB serves as Namibia's lead investment promotion agency, delivering end-to-end investor support services from exploratory visits through business registration, visa and permit facilitation, licensing and partnership brokering, alongside MSME development programmes across four focal areas: access to finance, access to markets, capacity building, and ideation. It operates the Investor One-Stop Centre, the Digital Nomad Visa programme, the In4MSME mobile application, the Sustainable Supplier Database, the Study Opportunities Platform, the ScaleUp Namibia startup ecosystem network, and grant programmes such as the SME Fund and Know2Grow (K2G).

Product overview

NIPDB operates as Namibia's lead investment promotion agency offering a portfolio of services including the In4MSME mobile app connecting MSMEs with investors, the Investor One Stop Centre coordinating with government agencies, the Digital Nomad Visa programme, the Study Opportunities platform, ScaleUp Namibia ecosystem coordination, the Know2Grow MSME support programme, and the SME Fund. The organisation functions as a government agency focused on investment promotion, MSME development, and economic diversification rather than a technology product company. Key platforms include the In4MSME mobile application, the Sustainable Supplier Database, the Namibia Startup Information Hub, and various support programmes like Chelete Cage pitch competitions and TechNovation Social for creative industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investor One-Stop Centre Coordinated service linking investors with all essential Namibian business agencies for business registration, licensing, permits and ongoing regulatory compliance. Targets domestic and foreign investors entering or expanding in Namibia.
• In4MSME Mobile Application A mobile application that connects Namibian MSMEs with potential clientele and investors, promoting the availability, quality and reliability of domestic suppliers and helping local and foreign investors understand local market dynamics.
• Digital Nomad Visa A visa programme enabling digital nomads and remote workers to live and work in Namibia, supporting the country's positioning as a destination for international remote-work talent.
• Study Opportunities Platform A web-based information sharing platform providing information about scholarships, bursaries, grants, loans, fellowships and internships available to Namibian students from local employers and international partners.
• ScaleUp Namibia / Startup Namibia Hub A national ecosystem coordination initiative and information hub (startup.nipdb.com) bringing together startup support organisations, hubs and enablers to foster collaboration and resource pooling, and providing information about the Namibian startup ecosystem, mentorship programs, pitch coaching, financing information, incubator/accelerator programmes, collaborative workspaces and innovation hubs for entrepreneurs and innovators across Namibia.
• Sustainable Supplier Database A database platform at sd2.nipdb.com connecting sustainable suppliers with investors and businesses in Namibia.
• Know2Grow (K2G) Programme A comprehensive MSME support initiative comprising the Retail Space Matchmaking programme (connecting MSMEs with retailers), the NextGen Entrepreneurs Showcase and the High Potential Pool for export-ready businesses.
• Chelete Cage A pitch competition platform for innovative Namibian startups and MSMEs providing opportunities to raise funds and meet capital needs, with winners gaining chances to pitch at global events such as AIM Congress and the Mauritius Emerging Technologies Expo.
• TechNovation Social An initiative scouting and supporting talented and scalable MSMEs within the Culture and Creative Industries of Namibia, focusing on fashion, technology, software development, music, visual arts and film-making.
• National Internship Programme and Youth Tax Allowance A government programme offering corporate tax incentives to employers who provide internship opportunities, managed in partnership with designated authorities including NIPDB.
• TalentsBridge Germany-Namibia A pilot skills-development programme launched with the Berlin Chamber of Commerce (IHK Berlin) and TalentsBridge e.V. that qualifies Namibian skilled workers according to German standards, with a scalable model targeting up to 3,000 trainees per year for both the German and Namibian labour markets.
• Namibia Public-Private Forum (NamPPF) A Cabinet-approved dialogue platform bringing together Namibian government institutions and private sector associations for high-level engagement on enhancing Namibia's competitiveness and ease of doing business.
• SME Fund A grant fund strengthening the sustainability, competitiveness and growth potential of Namibian MSMEs through entrepreneurship support, ecosystem strengthening, strategic partnerships and enterprise development, implemented under the ProSME Project in partnership with GIZ and the National Planning Commission.

Quantifiable outcome

• USD 365 million in potential business generated at Africa Hospitality Investment Forum 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Bank WindhoekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in African Union MSME Forum supporting MSME development and export promotion. The 3rd AU SME Forum brought together over 400 African stakeholders to explore how financial tools and educational innovation can empower MSMEs.
• Hollard NamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in African Union MSME Forum supporting MSME development and export promotion with financial tools and educational innovation.
• M&G InvestmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in African Union MSME Forum supporting MSME development through financial tools and educational innovation.
• Momentum MetropolitancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in African Union MSME Forum supporting MSME development through financial tools and educational innovation.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in African Union MSME Forum supporting MSME development and export promotion.
• First National Bank (FNB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Africa Hospitality Investment Forum 2024 as Host Partner. Namibia made history as first Southern African country to host AHIF, generating USD 365 million in potential business.
• Rand Merchant Bank NamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Africa Hospitality Investment Forum 2024 supporting tourism investment promotion.
• Ohlthaver and List LeisurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Africa Hospitality Investment Forum 2024 supporting Namibia's tourism investment promotion.
• De Beers GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Africa Hospitality Investment Forum 2024 supporting Namibia's positioning as tourism and investment destination.
• Namibia Tourism BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Africa Hospitality Investment Forum 2024 showcasing Namibia's unique tourism offerings.
• Frans Indongo GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Africa Hospitality Investment Forum 2024 supporting Namibia's tourism investment promotion.
• Firstrand Group NamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Namibia's participation in IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook Rankings. In April 2023, Cabinet approved Namibia's participation with NIPDB as lead partner and Firstrand Group support for data collection and Executive Opinion Survey.
• MSC CruisesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership launched in June 2024 to create job opportunities for young Namibians. Campaign attracted over 8,100 applications for 25 onboard roles in hospitality, culinary services, wellness, housekeeping, sales, and administration. 42 Namibians received letters of intent with 8 already onboarded.
• Economic Association of Namibia (EAN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of the 4th Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2026. The conference returns to Windhoek from 18-20 August 2026 with focus on strengthening collaboration, showcasing local opportunity and supporting Namibia's rapidly evolving energy sector.
• Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026 supporting Namibia's energy sector development and sustainable economic growth.
• National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026 supporting Namibia's rapidly evolving petroleum industry.
• SNC IncorporatedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026 supporting energy sector development.
• Rhino ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in Namibia Oil and Gas Conference 2026 supporting energy sector development.
• Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with NIPDB to host Shanghai-Namibia Business Exchange in Windhoek. Signed MoU with Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce (SFIC) establishing framework for long-term cooperation, business exchanges, information sharing and investment promotion.
• Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce (SFIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MoU with NCCI establishing framework for long-term cooperation in trade, investment and industrial cooperation. Engagement explored opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, mining, logistics, renewable energy and technology.
• National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished ScaleUp Namibia as national ecosystem coordination initiative in collaboration with NIPDB. Since inception in 2024 with 5 support organisations, the network expanded to 18 members enhancing collaboration and coordination of startup support services.
• Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunching pilot project for international workforce development through TalentsBridge e.V. Training center established in Namibia to qualify skilled workers according to German standards, with quality monitoring and transition support to German labor market.
• TalentsBridge e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit association coordinating international workforce development between Germany and Namibia. Pilot project aims to qualify skilled workers according to German standards with scalable model for expansion to up to 3,000 trainees per year.
• International Labour Organisation (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Skills for Trade & Economic Diversification Strategy (Energy Sector) to foster energy sector-relevant skills supporting decent employment creation and economic diversification.
• National Planning Commission (NPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ProSME Project implementing SME Fund for entrepreneurship support, ecosystem strengthening, strategic partnerships, and enterprise development aligned with national development priorities.
• Impact TankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHub member of ScaleUp Namibia network providing startup support services within Namibia's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Basecamp Business IncubatorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHub member of ScaleUp Namibia network providing startup incubation services.
• Co-Creation Hub Namibia (CcHub Namibia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHub member of ScaleUp Namibia network providing co-working spaces, networking events, and access to resources for entrepreneurs.
• Global Entrepreneurship Network Namibia (GEN)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHub member of ScaleUp Namibia network supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem development.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB): Singapore EDB is the global gold standard for government-led investment promotion, with a statutory mandate to attract FDI and drive economic diversification. It is a broad incumbent whose operating model and one-stop-shop approach informs peer IPBs like NIPDB.
• Dubai FDI (Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism): Dubai FDI is a well-established global investment promotion agency operating within Dubai's broader economic development authority. It shares NIPDB's mandate of attracting and facilitating FDI, but operates at significantly greater scale and serves as a benchmark incumbent IPB model.
• Department for Business and Trade (DBT), United Kingdom: DBT is the UK government's department for promoting investment, trade, and economic growth, including a dedicated Investment Promotion function. It is a broad incumbent that operates a much larger version of NIPDB's investment attraction and facilitation mandate.

Direct peers

• Rwanda Development Board (RDB): RDB combines investment promotion, business registration, and tourism under a single agency with a statutory mandate very similar to NIPDB. Both agencies operate as one-stop-shops for investors in their respective African jurisdictions, making them directly comparable in mandate and operating model.
• Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest): KenInvest is Kenya's statutory investment promotion agency with a mandate to attract and facilitate FDI, very similar to NIPDB's mandate in Namibia. Both agencies also support SME development and operate single-window investor services.
• Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC): GIPC is Ghana's lead investment promotion agency, with statutory authority to attract, facilitate, and retain FDI. Its mandate and investor-facilitation focus directly parallel NIPDB's core function as Namibia's lead IPB.

Regional players

• Invest South Africa (InvestSA): InvestSA operates under South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition with a similar one-stop-shop mandate for FDI attraction in SADC. It is a regional peer operating in the same Southern African investment ecosystem as NIPDB.
• Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC): BITC is Botswana's national investment and trade promotion agency with an integrated mandate for investment attraction, export promotion, and enterprise development. It is a close regional peer to NIPDB within SADC, targeting similar investors in mining, tourism, and energy.
• Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC): TIC is Tanzania's primary investment promotion agency with a statutory mandate to coordinate FDI across government agencies, much like NIPDB. It serves as a regional African IPB peer focused on natural resources, agriculture, and tourism sectors.
• Mauritius Board of Investment: The Mauritius Board of Investment is the statutory agency for investment promotion and enterprise development in Mauritius, with a comparable one-stop-shop mandate. It operates in the same Southern African investment ecosystem as NIPDB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NIPDB
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-07lNlMKxgpM5OLKoHFg1Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/NIPDB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nipdb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board