Namibia’s economy is primarily based on…

• mining
• fishing
• agriculture
• tourism

Mining

Mining is the backbone of Namibia’s economy, with diamonds (the highest carat value output in the world) being the country’s largest earner of foreign revenue. In addition, Namibia is also a major producer of…

• base metals including copper, gold and silver and zinc
• uranium
• dimension stones such as blue sodalite granite and marble
• salt
• fluorspar
• other minerals
• semi-precious stones including agate, amethyst, aquamarine, chalcedony, chrysolla, diaptase, garnets, rose quartz and tourmaline

Fishing

The fishing sector, which has drawn the interest of numerous foreign investors, is another pillar of Namibia’s economy, landing approximately 600 000 tons of fish and shellfish annually for processing offshore.

Reasons for Namibia’s fishing wealth are...

• the favourable influence of the cold Benguella current on marine life including a large variety of commercially valuable species suck as hake, kinglip, monkfish, tuna, sole, rock lobster, muscles and oysters
• the sparely populated, unpolluted coastline which is also devoid of heavy industry
• effective conservation and fisheries management policies

Agriculture

Only 2% of the country’s land surface is regarded as arable. As a result the large commercial agricultural sector mainly focuses on livestock with the exporting of cattle, beef and mutton and other meat products, making a significant contribution to the GDP.

Recently fruit farming and exports, particularly table grapes, has taken off in the South, alongside the Orange River. Other agricultural products produced for commercial consumption include pearl millet, wheat, maize, groundnuts, beans and cotton.

With Namibia’s awesome desert and coastal landscapes and diversity of wildlife, Namibia’s tourism sector has rapidly expanded, becoming a major source of foreign income and employment.

Monitored by the Namibian Tourism Board (NTB), the country has a well-developed tourism infrastructure including 26 parks and reserves, accommodating 12 government-owned rest camps, covering approximately 15% of the total land area. Since independence in 1990, private tour operators and a range of accommodation providers have increased, offering European standards of service.