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WALVIS BAY MARITIME WEEK 2026
Leaders Call for Maritime Action at Walvis Bay Week
Namibia’s ministers urge policy translation into practice to power the blue economy through infrastructure, youth skills, and regional development.
By: Johanna Festus
Namibia must move beyond policy statements and translate regulatory frameworks into practical outcomes to power its blue economy.
This was the central call made by the Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, during the official opening of the 4th Annual Walvis Bay Maritime Week on Thursday at the Walvis Bay Town Hall.
Held under the theme "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence", the event convenes government officials, industry leaders, and youth to address key growth opportunities in the sector.
Nekundi emphasized that closing the gap between national ambition and current capabilities requires three core pillars of action: investing in sustainable maritime infrastructure, enforcing environmental protection in marine waters, and equipping young Namibians with specialized skills.
"Maritime excellence must not just be a slogan. It must be a measurable reality we achieve in our lifetime. Our youth must not be treated merely as observers of the Blue Economy. They must be prepared as its innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, artisans, regulators, and leaders," Nekundi said.
Speaking at the same event, Deputy Minister of Innovation, Dino Ballotti, highlighted the role of youth capacity building in sustaining the sector.
"Since its launch, this initiative has engaged thousands of participants from across Namibia and has grown into one of the country's largest school debating and essay competitions, reaching more than 11,150 debaters since inception," Ballotti said.
The debating competition features financial prizes directed toward regional educational needs, with Namport sponsoring N500,000 for first place, Terminal Investment Namibia providing N250,000 for second place, and Zephyr Investment contributing toward the N$100,000 third-place prize alongside Namport. Teams from Kavango East and Omusati competed for top honors, while Oshikoto and Ohangwena contested for third place.
Ballotti also revealed that the Walvis Bay Maritime Week has been named one of the top three finalists in the Community Building category of the International Association of Ports and Harbors' (IAPH) 2026 Sustainability Awards, with final winners determined by expert assessment and public voting.
Running throughout the week, the event features career engagements, an Edu-Corner, industry exhibitions, a Maritime Art Competition, a Seafood Cook-Off, and sports activities supported by key partners, including the Municipality of Walvis Bay, Namport, Debmarine Namibia, and the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust.
