Standard Bank empowers Namibian Businesses through Trade and Innovation.
Standard Bank Namibia hosted a successful Breakfast Connect Session, uniting leaders from both the public and private sectors to explore strategies for empowering businesses in a challenging economic climate. Held at Standard Bank’s headquarters, the event was marked by insightful speeches, testimonials, and a panel discussion aimed at driving business growth, fostering partnerships, and promoting economic recovery in Namibia.
Standard Bank Namibia’s Chief Executive Officer, Erwin Tjipuka, kicked off the event by reaffirming the bank’s dedication to fuelling the next wave of growth in Namibia. “At Standard Bank, we champion growth by providing clarity of purpose. This means driving progress across various sectors to empower Namibians and create a brighter economic future,” said Tjipuka. He emphasized that the bank’s solutions are designed to address the needs of the Namibian business community, contributing to the broader goal of economic recovery and sustainability.
Rejoice Itembu, the Acting Head of Business & Commercial Banking, echoed this sentiment, explaining the bank’s mission to support Namibian businesses with tailored financial solutions. “We are committed to making solutions available that safeguard jobs, support SMEs, and provide access to essential financial products like commercial property loans, vehicle and asset financing, and trade financing,” she said. Itembu further reflected on the bank’s purpose, stating, “Namibia is our home, and we drive her growth. Every solution we provide is built on this foundation — driving the growth of businesses like yours, which in turn drives the growth of our economy.”
The morning’s discussions highlighted Standard Bank’s focus on supporting key sectors in the Namibian economy, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and government stakeholders. Itembu introduced several of the bank’s initiatives, including the Economic Relief Scheme, which is a collaboration with the Bank of Namibia and the Namibian government aimed at safeguarding jobs and ensuring business continuity during challenging times. She also outlined the bank’s commercial property loans, vehicle and asset financing options, and trade financing solutions, which are tailored to meet the capital needs of businesses across various sectors. “Whether you’re expanding your fleet, scaling your operations, or transitioning to cleaner energy, we are here to ensure that your business has the resources to grow with confidence,” added Itembu, emphasizing the bank’s partnership approach.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Michael Humavindu, Deputy Executive Director for Industrialization and Enterprise Development at the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade. Dr. Humavindu stressed the ministry’s support for businesses, citing the development of a local barcoding system, Namibia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the SADC Protocol on Industrialization as key initiatives driving the country’s trade and industrial policies. “Trade policy is an extension of our industrial policy,” he said, highlighting the role of global supply chains in Namibia’s economic transformation.
A dynamic panel discussion moderated by Nongee Faye Kandjii, a legal practitioner and associate at ENS Namibia, explored how businesses can leverage trade to foster growth. The panel featured Dr. Michael Humavindu, Israel Shitenda, Founder and Managing Director of Scope Engineering, and Emilia Uupindi, Manager of Trade at Standard Bank.
Shitenda, whose company employs 53 staff and secured a government tender to equip 34 tractors, credited Standard Bank for providing critical contract financing and letters of credit that helped his business thrive. “Standard Bank helps us save time and provides advice on minimizing everyday losses. I believe that business growth should reach even the smallest entrepreneurs,” he said, advocating for broad-based business empowerment. Uupindi emphasized the importance of liquidity in supporting businesses, noting that Standard Bank’s trade financing solutions enable businesses to access the capital they need to succeed.
“We provide liquidity to our clients, ensuring that they have the resources to fuel their growth,” she said. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dominic Shikola, Head of Coverage at Standard Bank, who reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting Namibian businesses in their pursuit of growth and success. The session underscored the importance of collaboration between financial institutions, government, and businesses in building a resilient economy. For more information on Standard Bank’s business solutions and how they can support your growth, visit our website or contact the Business & Commercial Banking team.
