Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA has been ranked first in Africa in the Market Perception Pillar of the StartupBlink Innovators Business Environment Index (IBEI) 2026.
This was announced by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board’s (NIPDB) Senior Manager for Marketing, Branding and Communications, Catherine Shipushu.
According to Shipushu, the ranking highlights the country’s strong institutional credibility, quality of governance and international trust within the African continent.
“The StartupBlink Innovators Business Environment Index evaluates the foundational conditions that make innovation possible. The assessment is structured around three core pillars, namely Ease of Operating a Business, Business Incentives and Market Perception, which evaluates governance quality, credibility, transparency, stability, human capital and international mobility. The Index evaluates over 125 countries worldwide using more than 30 quantifiable and objective parameters, capturing how easily innovators can start, operate and trust the business environment,” she explained.
Shipushu noted that Namibia’s ranking as first in Africa and first in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Market Perception Pillar is based on the country’s demonstrated regional leadership in institutional trust and governance credibility.
“Namibia also ranked first in Southern Africa in the Market Perception Pillar, reinforcing the country’s position as a trusted and stable business environment within the subregion. Further to that, Namibia maintains consistent regional competitiveness, with strong positioning across Southern Africa in multiple dimensions of the business environment and ranks in the top quartile globally for the Dividend Tax Rate and Capital Gains Tax Rate Parameters,” she said.
Shipushu emphasised that this recognition validates Namibia’s ongoing commitment to creating a predictable, stable and investor-friendly business environment. She added that it also reflects the impact of practical reforms introduced to enhance the ease of doing business and enterprise development in the country, including the establishment of the Investor One Stop Centre and the ScaleUp Namibia platform.
“This achievement positions Namibia as a trusted destination for innovators and entrepreneurs seeking confidence and stability when establishing and growing their ventures. To translate this ranking into tangible outcomes for startup entrepreneurs in the long-term will require stronger coordination among stakeholders as well as increased investment in Research & Development, intellectual property protection and commercialisation. Additionally, efforts must focus on strengthening pathways from research to market-ready solutions while expanding access to finance, skills, and markets for businesses and innovators,” Shipushu added.
The full report can be downloaded at: https://lp.startupblink.com/innovators-business…/.
Photo for illustrative purposes. Photo: NIPDB.
