Minister of Trade and Industrialisation 

Minister: Hon: Lucia Iipumbu

In March 2020, Hon. Lucia Iipumbu assumed the position of Minister for Industrialisation and Trade (MIT) charged with the responsibility of spearheading sustainable economic development and growth through the promotion of Industrialisation to boost productive capacities and diversification of the economy and to provide clear and transparent Investment policy and legislative framework including facilitating a conducive investment environment for a private sector led economic growth and employment creation. Hon. Iipumbu is a member of Cabinet and Parliament respectively.

Prior to her current positon, from February 2018 Hon. Iipumbu served as Deputy Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development for two years with the mandate to drive economic development and promoting Namibia as the preferred investment destination to both local and foreign investors. Hon. Iipumbu also served as the Deputy Minister of Economic Planning in the Presidency for a period of three years from 2015 - 2018, together with her team, they were responsible for planning National Priorities and directing the course of National Development.

Her appointment as Deputy Minister at NPC came after her long career at the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) from 2001-2015 where she initially started as a Pension Administrator, later promoted to a Senior Benefits Administrator and eventually become the Head of Benefits Processing Unit. As an active society member and owing to her community contribution, in 2017 she was elected to the board of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in Nairobi, Kenya. She has always been an advocate of Sexual and Reproductive Health especially amongst young women, to date she stills serves as a board of the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA).

Hon. Iipumbu’s political prominence started at the lowest structure whilst as a student at the University of Namibia, her youth activism saw her rise on a political trajectory to later serve as a SWAPO Party Youth league National Executive Committee (NEC) and taking up the position of a National Secretary for Finance and Administration for a period of 10 years. After graduating from the youth in 2012, she had gained relevant experience from the youth league structures, which became evident as the party members elected Hon. Iipumbu to the SWAPO Party Central Committee and Political Bureau which are the highest structure between congresses, her election is notable as she is one of the youngest female member to serve SWAPO Political Bureau for 5 years, the Politburo comes with great responsibility in directing SWAPO Party policies and taking decisions. Hon. Lucia Iipumbu holds a Bachelor of Administration and Master of Administration Degrees from the University of Namibia. She currently pursuing her LLB in Law.

Deputy-Minister of Trade and Industrialisation


Hon Deputy Minister: Verna Sinimbo 

The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT) is mandated to develop and manage Namibia’s economic regulatory framework, promote economic growth and development through the formulation and implementation of appropriate policies with the view to attract investment, increase trade, develop and expand the country’s industrial base.

To execute its mandate, MIT has developed key implementation instruments such as the Namibian National Industrial Policy, which is aimed at achieving Vision 2030 and subsequently gave birth to the “Growth at Home” Strategy. The Growth at Home Strategy Agenda is to infuse the identification and promotion of new value chains to help drive the growth of the manufacturing sector. Subsequently, in 2016, the ministry launched ten Sectoral Growth Strategies for cosmetics, wildlife products, leather, metal fabrication, handicrafts, gemstones and jewelry, seafood processing, charcoal and taxidermy.

In the Growth at Home Strategy Agenda, MIT has identified that there is still vast potential in the meat (both livestock and game meat) and fish processing; horticulture processing, minerals beneficiation; pharmaceutical, charcoal and biomass, tourism development; and the marketing of Namibia as service centre with modern information and communication technology, the road transportation system and harbour services. Harnessing these strategic areas and sectors will ultimately enable us on a firmer footing to ensure that our Vision 2030 and SADC Industrialisation Agenda is fully attained.

The Ministry, through the Namibia Trade Forum, crafted a strategy with the view to liberalize and transform the retail market industry for locally produced products. This strategy, known is as Retail Sector Charter. To support the strategy the Ministry launch the “BuyLocal and GrowNamibia Campaign” which seeks to support the recovery of Namibia businesses by calling on all Namibians to prioritise purchasing local products.

On the investment front, the ministry has embarked on a targeted investment promotion, aimed at creating a platform for Namibia to be branded, not only as the best tourist destination but to showcase what she can offer in terms of trade and investment opportunities, as well as tell our unique story to the rest of the world in our authentic voice.

The Ministry and its agencies will continue with the implementation of its mandate, however re-strategising in this era of COVID-19 pandemic, requires all of us to adopt new normal of doing things, which is that of automating the services we render.

 Executive Director 


Executive Director : Mr. Sikongo Haihambo

The Office of the Executive Director  is responsible for, amongst others:

Coordinating, guiding and monitoring the planning for and implementation of all programmes of the Ministry Providing support to the Minister of Industrialisation and ,Trade in all areas of his/her responsibility

Ensuring implementation of and compliance with the laws and policies of the Government, especially those specifically assigned to the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade

Managing the financial and other resources of the Ministry

Supporting the work of the agencies and State-owned enterprises by the Ministry in exercising aspects of the mandate of the Ministry delegated to them for implementation

Managing external relations with stakeholders outside the Ministry within Government or the public at large.