Bank of Namibia Governor Calls for Urgent Economic Reforms at BIS Roundtable. The Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Johannes !Gawaxab, joined central bank leaders from around the world at a special roundtable hosted by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Cape Town. The high-level discussion focused on global economic trends and Africa’s role in the evolving financial landscape.
Reflecting on the meeting, Governor !Gawaxab highlighted a stark economic disparity: while Africa is home to 19% of the global population, it contributes only 2.4% to global GDP. He emphasized that unlocking the continent’s full potential requires addressing key structural barriers.
Among the top priorities he outlined were strengthening regional trade and integration, cutting bureaucratic hurdles, and investing in critical infrastructure such as ports, energy, and logistics. He also stressed the need to build investor confidence through policy predictability, reform financing models to better suit African economies, and leverage technology to drive innovation and productivity.
The BIS roundtable provided a platform for African central banks to engage with global financial leaders on sustainable growth strategies. The discussions underscored the urgency of implementing reforms that will enable Africa to become a stronger player in the global economy.
