Bank of Namibia Charts Path Toward Digital and Inclusive Financial Systems
The event reinforced Namibia’s ambition to emerge as a regional leader in digital payments, ensuring that innovation, security, and inclusivity remain at the core of its financial sector reforms.
The Bank of Namibia , through its National Payments and Financial Surveillance Department, hosted the 2025 Payment Thought Leadership Forum under the theme “Inclusive Payments, Shared Prosperity: Charting the Next Era.” The gathering brought together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and innovators to reflect on the evolution of payment systems and set the course for the next phase of Namibia’s financial transformation.
The forum highlighted the critical role of payments in driving economic growth, financial stability, and social inclusion. It emphasized that modern payment systems are central to prosperity, connecting citizens, businesses, and governments across the economy.
Participants reviewed progress made in expanding financial inclusion, which has risen significantly in recent years, but also noted that rural and informal sectors remain underserved. The Bank of Namibia reaffirmed its commitment to closing this gap through initiatives such as the planned rollout of an instant payment solution designed to bridge rural and urban communities, while ensuring secure, affordable, and innovative access to financial services.
The event also underscored the importance of connectivity, digital literacy, and cybersecurity in building inclusive financial ecosystems. Plans to revise the national broadband policy, with a focus on increasing internet speeds and affordability, were highlighted as key enablers of digital payments.
Regulatory frameworks such as the Electronic Transactions Act of 2019 and the National Cybersecurity Strategy (2022–2027) were recognized as vital to enhancing trust in digital finance. The forum also stressed the need for sustainable business models that deliver real value to users, particularly in underserved communities, while promoting greater financial and digital literacy.
As the current National Payment System Vision and Strategy (2021–2025) approaches its conclusion, insights from the forum will help shape the next five-year strategy, guiding Namibia toward a more inclusive, competitive, and resilient digital economy.
The event reinforced Namibia’s ambition to emerge as a regional leader in digital payments, ensuring that innovation, security, and inclusivity remain at the core of its financial sector reforms.
