馃嚦馃嚘NamibiaSouthern Africa
Bipa launches 2026 penalty waiver campaign for businesses
via The Namibian1 min read
The Business and Intellectual Property Authority Bipa has initiated its 2026 penalty waiver campaign, running from June to August, to assist non-compliant businesses in updating their records and regaining good standing. This initiative aims to encourage businesses to regularize their status by waiving annual duty penalties for all outstanding years up to and including 2025. Bipa previously conducted a similar campaign last year, which pardoned over 28,000 businesses from fines totaling N$219 million. The authority stated that this campaign is part of its efforts to enhance compliance, improve the ease of doing business, and foster a more responsive regulatory environment. Bipa recognizes that many businesses have faced operational and economic challenges, impacting their ability to remain compliant. The waiver serves as both a relief measure and an opportunity for businesses to take corrective action, avoiding future penalties or administrative complications arising from non-compliance.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Must ReadNamibia and South Africa have advanced efforts to resolve the Orange River boundary dispute with the submission of a joint committee of experts' report to the fourth session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission BNC. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, speaking at the BNC summit in Pretoria, South Africa, on Friday, stated that the report is a significant step towards concluding a matter unresolved for over three decades. The issue originated from a decision by former presidents Sam Nujoma and Nelson Mandela to address the boundary question. A joint committee of experts, formed in 2016, completed its report in 2017. This report was later reviewed by ministers responsible for the political, diplomatic, and legal committee in October 2024 before being presented at the BNC summit. Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed optimism that the summit would finalize the matter, thereby closing "the chapter on colonialism" and benefiting present and future generations. She referenced Namibia's founding president, Sam Nujoma, who emphasized creating opportunities for future generations, and former president Hage Geingob's remarks on cooperation and resolving bilateral issues through dialogue and mutual respect.
Must ReadSouth African president Cyril Ramaphosa encouraged Namibia and South Africa to cease exporting raw materials and instead focus on beneficiation and industrialization. Speaking at the fourth session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Pretoria, Ramaphosa hosted president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and emphasized the strong bond between the two nations. He stated that Africa is at a defining moment due to its vast natural resources, and the challenge lies in capturing greater value from these resources. Ramaphosa called for the development of regional value chains to create jobs and opportunities within southern Africa, rather than exporting raw materials and importing prosperity. He highlighted the Orange Basin as a promising energy frontier, suggesting its development should extend beyond oil and gas extraction to establish an integrated regional energy economy encompassing engineering, exploration, refining, logistics, maritime services, and advanced manufacturing.
Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism, with support from conservation partners, has translocated 575 wild animals from Etosha National Park to conservation areas, including communal conservancies in the Kunene region. Tristan Cowley, founder of Conservation Travel Foundation CTF, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government, communities, and conservation organizations for Namibia's conservation success. CTF, the non-profit conservation arm of ultimate.earth, contributed approximately N$2.7 million to the operation. The Kunene region hosts desert-adapted wildlife such as black rhino, elephants, and lions. Conservation partners noted that increasing prey populations is crucial for ecological balance and for reducing human-wildlife conflict. Cowley emphasized the ongoing need for cross-sector collaboration to address conservation challenges, and CTF affirmed its commitment to supporting biodiversity protection and community conservation initiatives.