Annual Symposium Creative Attendance

The Bank of Namibia today hosted its 26th Annual Symposium under the theme “Unleashing the Power of the Creative Industries: A Catalyst for Economic Development.” The event brought together policymakers, academics, international experts, creators and cultural practitioners to explore how Namibia can build a thriving, competitive and job-rich creative economy.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, the Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Hon. Dr Sanet Steenkamp, underscored the centrality of creativity in the country’s growth agenda. She stated that, “the future will not be shaped solely by the resources beneath our soil, but by the ideas and ingenuity of our people.” She added emphatically, “our young people are bold, digitally fluent, and culturally rooted. It is time for them to move from being consumers of global content to producers of uniquely Namibian stories, products, and ideas.’’ She further called upon Namibian creatives to collaborate, innovate and build, urging them to actively embrace opportunities and strengthen the collective capacity of the sector.

The Minister also reinforced that Namibia’s creative sector cannot grow in isolation from the country’s broader national development vision. She emphasised that the creative industries are intertwined with the nation’s historical journey, reminding the audience that the stories of Namibia’s struggle, leadership and resilience must be preserved, retold and reimagined by a new generation of creators.