Namibia has been ranked second globally and first in Africa in the 2026 Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment Performance Index, reinforcing the country’s growing reputation as one of the continent’s most competitive destinations for new international investment.
The latest index, published by fDi Intelligence, measures how effectively countries attract greenfield foreign direct investment projects relative to the size of their economies. Greenfield investment refers to companies establishing entirely new operations in a foreign country rather than acquiring or expanding existing assets. The methodology compares each country’s share of global greenfield investment projects against its share of global gross domestic product, providing an indicator of investment performance that is proportionate to economic size.
According to the rankings, Namibia achieved an index score of 7.74, placing it second worldwide behind the United Arab Emirates, which recorded a score of 19.21. The result also positioned Namibia ahead of every other African economy included in the assessment.
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board welcomed the findings, describing them as evidence of the country’s increasing competitiveness within the global investment landscape. Catherine Shipushu, Acting Executive for Competitiveness and Branding at the Board, said the ranking reflected Namibia’s ability to attract a significantly higher number of international investment projects relative to the scale of its economy.
Shipushu said the performance demonstrated that Namibia continues to strengthen its visibility as an investment destination while creating conditions that enable international businesses to establish long term operations with greater confidence.
The report identifies several factors underpinning investor interest in Namibia. Among them are significant offshore oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin, which have drawn increasing attention from international energy companies, alongside the country’s ambition to become a leading producer and exporter of green hydrogen. These developments have broadened Namibia’s profile beyond its traditional mining sector and positioned the country within emerging global energy value chains.
The assessment also highlights political stability, a strategic location on Africa’s Atlantic coast, an extensive natural resource base and expanding opportunities across priority sectors as contributing factors supporting investor confidence.
According to the report, Namibia attracted 16 greenfield foreign direct investment projects during 2025. While this represented a slight decline from the record 19 projects secured in 2024, it remained the country’s second strongest annual performance since the index began tracking these investments.
For Namibia, the ranking reflects more than an increase in project numbers. It signals the extent to which relatively smaller African economies can compete internationally by aligning investment promotion strategies with long term national development priorities, infrastructure planning and regulatory certainty. Although project volumes remain modest when compared with larger economies, the country’s performance relative to its economic size demonstrates the importance of policy consistency and institutional capacity in attracting new investment.
Across Africa, the findings also contribute to a broader narrative surrounding investment on the continent. While global discussions often focus on the scale of investment flowing into larger markets, the index illustrates that smaller economies are increasingly securing strategic projects in sectors linked to energy transition, industrial development and value addition. Such trends reflect the growing diversity of Africa’s investment landscape and underscore the importance of evaluating performance through measures that account for differences in economic size and structure.
As competition for international capital intensifies, countries across Southern Africa continue to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening investor confidence while balancing national development priorities. Namibia’s latest performance demonstrates how targeted investment strategies, institutional coordination and emerging economic sectors can contribute to sustained international interest.
