Namibia Lacks Studios, Incentives to Boost Film Industry

 

By: Justicia Shipena

 

Namibia’s film industry faces significant challenges in attracting investment and international productions due to a lack of essential infrastructure and government incentives.

This is according to Nangula Uandja, CEO of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB).

The country’s absence of film studios is a key barrier, she said, limiting its capacity to develop a competitive creative sector.

“We do not have studios… so the work that is done in studios elsewhere cannot be done here,” Uandja said in a recent interview with Eagle FM.

She noted that neighbouring countries, like South Africa, attract international productions by offering incentives such as VAT rebates on production costs.

To address this gap, the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises, alongside the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, is exploring incentive packages for the Namibian film sector.