Standard Bank and NIFA host Market Access & Trade Opportunity Evening for entrepreneurs

By: Hertha Ekandjo

Standard Bank Namibia, in partnership with the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy (NIFA), on Thursday hosted the Market Access & Trade Opportunity Evening, an interactive session aimed at empowering Namibian entrepreneurs and MSME’s with the tools, knowledge, and connections needed to expand into regional and international markets.

The event forms part of the bank’s Blue Growth Series, a flagship programme designed to promote SME development, financial inclusion, and sustainable entrepreneurship across the country.

Open to the public and not limited to Standard Bank clients, the session targeted both formal and informal businesses involved in importing, exporting, or cross-border trade — as well as those aspiring to enter these sectors. Participants received insights into trade finance, logistics, and regional market access opportunities.

The evening featured a keynote address on regional and continental trade opportunities, expert discussions on import/export dynamics and trade finance tools and many more crucial discussions.

Standard Bank Namibia`s Head of Business and Commercial Banking Helena Amupolo, underlined the importance of enabling entrepreneurs to scale sustainably.

“Entrepreneurs in Namibia are driven by ambition and innovation, but to truly thrive, they need access to capital that’s fit for purpose, supportive ecosystems, and predictable regulatory environments,” she said.

Amupolo added the Market Access & Trade Opportunity Evening is a platform to help translate entrepreneurial ambition into action by connecting MSME’s to practical knowledge, networks, and financial solutions that enable cross-border growth.