WINDHOEK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse on Thursday called for stronger competition policies to ensure that major investments in mining and energy create more opportunities for local businesses and contribute to broader economic development.
Speaking at the 2026 African Competition Forum Biennial Conference in Windhoek, Amutse said large-scale investments should create opportunities for local suppliers, service providers and small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in economic activities and benefit from industrial growth.
He stressed the need to ensure that capable businesses can compete fairly for contracts, access essential services and expand their operations without facing unnecessary market barriers.
The two-day conference, held under the theme "Advancing Competition in Africa: Shared Experiences, Emerging Challenges and Evolving Approaches," brings together competition authorities, policymakers and industry stakeholders to discuss competition policy and emerging regulatory challenges across the continent.
Amutse also urged governments to align industrial, trade, investment, licensing and procurement policies with competition principles to prevent unnecessary barriers to market entry.
The minister also called for stronger regulatory capacity across Africa to address emerging challenges posed by digitalization and artificial intelligence, stressing the need for competition authorities to keep pace with rapidly evolving markets.
Under Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan, the country aims to increase the share of processed mineral exports from 46.6 percent in 2024 to 57 percent by 2030, while raising the share of mining venture equity held by Namibians from 51 percent to 60 percent.
The mineral-rich southern African country is seeking to strengthen local mineral processing, expand domestic participation in the mining industry and attract investment to support industrialization, job creation and economic diversification. ■