Assessment of Namibia’s e-commerce readiness

The Project at A Glance

International Economics (IEC) is contributing to boosting the e-commerce capacity in Namibia in order to help MSMEs to scale up and access other markets. IEC conducted an assessment of Namibia’s e-commerce readiness to allow Namibia to better engage in and benefit from e-commerce. The assessment covered an analysis of the existing state of e-commerce in the country and policies on technology, e-commerce and trade. It also assessed the policies, laws and regulations, infrastructure and other parameters of importance to e-commerce.

What We Found

Namibia has the potential of leveraging e-Commerce to promote cross-border and domestic trade. The economic benefits of E-commerce are not only limited to external trade but are also drivers for spurring domestic markets. Survey results from Namibia reveal a trend of E-commerce adoption across the country with 60% of respondents saying they sold goods/services online. While e-commerce holds the potential for the country’s growth and development, the overall ecosystem to support e-commerce needs improvement. In Namibia, the legal and regulatory frameworks are the most critical areas for e-commerce development mainly due to SMEs’ poor awareness of the regulatory environment surrounding e-commerce. Moreover, policy support and access to finance are also viewed as critical areas deserving of particular attention.

Our Strategy and Impact

Our approach for assessing the e-commerce readiness of Namibia included three overarching pillars, namely: business enabling environment, connectivity, and private sector development as well as a series of cross-cutting pillars. This project starts with an analytical desk review of the situation of e-commerce in Namibia and the data available covering the four areas described above. The team also developed a comprehensive questionnaire covering the aforementioned areas, which were distributed to both the public and private sectors, using the consultant’s own network and social media channels, assisted by the Namibia Trade Forum and other focal institutions in Namibia.
Currently, existing barriers to electronic trade, such as stringent data localisation measures, impede Namibian firms from using e-commerce as a selling channel. In order to take advantage of the potential for e-commerce, Namibia will need to prioritise the policy and regulatory environment to favour digital transformation of the economy. Similarly, limited access to the internet might represent the single biggest issue hampering the development of e-commerce in Namibia. Ensuring connectivity of the country with regional and international markets is critical for reaping the benefits of cross-border e-commerce.

Our Core Solutions

E-Commerce and digital trade are an increasingly important way for businesses to transact with customers, creating immense opportunities, facilitate innovation, enhance competitiveness, and improve access in local and global markets.
International Economics Consulting provides advice and solutions on some of the latest emerging trends in e-commerce and digital trade such as paperless trading, e-payments, online consumer protection and data protection. We assist governments and businesses worldwide in creating an enabling environment for e-commerce and digital trade, to maximise economic growth and development.