Dino Ballotti urges Namibian entrepreneurs to target regional markets

Namibian Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Dino Ballotti has urged local entrepreneurs to expand their ambitions beyond Namibia’s domestic market of approximately three million people. Speaking at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship Breakfast in Oshakati, Ballotti emphasized that digital technology provides a pathway to reach much larger regional populations.

Ballotti identified Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa as key target markets, noting the significant scale of populations in Angola and South Africa. He suggested that digital platforms, artificial intelligence, cloud services, and electronic payments can help businesses overcome traditional barriers such as distance and language differences.

While encouraging regional growth, Ballotti noted that expansion requires capital, logistics, regulatory compliance, and local market knowledge. CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua added that the regulator aims to ensure digital access leads to meaningful economic participation.