REVOLOX MEDIA | TODAY’S ISSUE

Welcome to Revolox Media — where Namibia’s financial shifts, trade dynamics, and global tech tensions take center stage.

Here’s what’s making headlines today:

• GIPF’s pension-backed home loan scheme goes live in January, unlocking affordable housing finance for thousands of Namibians.

• Namibia posts a N$1 billion trade deficit with Africa in July, even as intra-continental trade continues to grow.

• The government unveils the National Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, offering loans at a fixed 4% interest rate to fuel innovation and small business growth.

• ByteDance chip design staff move reporting lines to Singapore, as US-China tensions reshape the global tech landscape.

From housing and youth empowerment to trade realities and tech geopolitics — this edition delivers the stories shaping tomorrow.

MARKET CORNER

NSX Index Overview - September 5, 2025

Index

Top Movers: NSX Local Stocks

Economic Pulse

Foreign Exchange Rates

Disclaimer: The financial data and market information provided in the tables below, including stock prices, indices, exchange rates, economic indicators, and other metrics, are sourced from user-provided data and are accurate as of 5 September 2025 based on the latest input. This information is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or an offer to buy or sell securities. Market data is subject to change, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Users should verify data independently and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Revolox will not be responsible for any errors, omissions, or losses arising from the use of this information.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

GIPF Pension-Backed Home Loan Scheme to Launch in January, Offering Affordable Housing Financing

Namibia’s Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) will roll out its Pension-Backed Home Loan Scheme (PBHLS) starting January 2026. The initiative allows active pension fund members to use up to one-third of their pension savings to buy, build, or improve homes.

Affordable Rates and Loan Flexibility

The scheme offers home loan interest rates at the repo rate plus 2.5%, significantly lower than the minimum 3.5% spread commercial banks currently charge. Members can also transfer existing home loans from other financial institutions into the PBHLS, potentially reducing monthly repayments.

GIPF CEO Martin Inkumbi explained that the funds can finance home or land purchases, new construction, renovations, and improvements across urban, rural, proclaimed, and unproclaimed areas throughout Namibia.

Collateral and Risk Management

Unlike traditional mortgages secured with property, PBHLS loans use pension credits as collateral, up to a maximum of 33.33%. Inkumbi emphasized that the scheme is structured to ensure loan repayments are completed before members retire, protecting their long-term retirement savings.

Currently, GIPF has allocated N$900 million for the fund’s launch. The scheme is available exclusively to active contributors to the pension fund.

Administration and Governance

GIPF will provide the capital, while the administration will be handled by two entities: Kuleni Financial Services, a wholly owned GIPF subsidiary managing about 65% of operations, and First Capital overseeing the remainder.

Cabinet Secretary Emilia Mkusa highlighted the scheme’s broader social impact: “The PBHLS will provide civil servants with financial security and peace of mind by securing homes for their families and future generations.”

Housing Backlog and Government Plans

Namibia currently faces a critical housing shortage, with a backlog of 300,000 units estimated to require N$76 billion to address. The government has pledged to build 50,000 housing units over the next five years to alleviate informal settlements.

In Windhoek alone, the number of shacks tripled since 2011, reaching 217,000 in 2023. Meanwhile, average prices for three-bedroom houses in high- and middle-density areas hover around N$1.2 million.

Source: The Namibian

Namibia Records N$1 Billion Trade Deficit with Africa in July Amid Growing Intra-Continental Trade

Namibia posted a trade deficit of N$1 billion with African countries in July 2025, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) reported. Exports to Africa reached N$5.1 billion, while imports from the continent stood at N$6.1 billion.

Intra-Africa trade accounted for 40.7% of Namibia’s total exports and 48.7% of its total imports. South Africa remained the dominant partner, absorbing 44.9% of Namibian exports and supplying 83% of imports.

Other important export destinations included Botswana, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Mozambique. Imports also originated from Nigeria and Morocco alongside South Africa, Zambia, and the DRC.

Namibia enjoyed a trade surplus of N$1.3 billion with Botswana, but this was outweighed by a N$2.9 billion deficit with South Africa.

Export and Import Commodities

Non-monetary gold was the top export, representing 29.4% of the total. Precious stones, including diamonds, contributed 20.4%, followed by fish (12.5%), petroleum oils (6.7%), and base metal ores and concentrates (3.1%).

Key imports were motor vehicles for goods transport (5.9%), base metal ores and concentrates (4.1%), fertilisers (4.0%), sugars (3.8%), and nickel ores and concentrates (3.7%).

Overall Trade Position and Major Global Partners

For July 2025, Namibia’s total exports and imports both stood at N$12.6 billion, yielding a narrow overall trade deficit of N$58 million. Exports rose 3.3% month-on-month and 25.9% year-on-year, while imports increased 11.7% compared to June 2025 and 5.3% year-on-year.

Globally, South Africa accounted for 18.3% of Namibia’s exports, followed by China at 13.6%, with Botswana, India, and France also key markets. On the import side, South Africa supplied 40.8% of goods, China 10.2%, and Germany, the UAE, and the United States made up other significant sources.

Source: The Brief

Government Launches National Youth Entrepreneurship Fund with Loans at 4% Fixed Interest Rate

Namibia’s government will provide loans from the National Youth Entrepreneurship Fund (Nyef) at a fixed interest rate capped at 4%, Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced. This directed lending approach aims to ease repayment and lower financial barriers for young entrepreneurs.

“The Nyef will channel funds through designated conduits with interest rates capped at 4%, supporting equitable access across youth enterprises,” said Shafudah.

Funding Allocation and Disbursement Channels

The ministry is mobilizing N$500 million for Nyef, with N$257 million allocated for the 2025/26 financial year. Funds will be disbursed through multiple institutions including the Development Bank of Namibia, Environmental Investment Fund, Agribank, and eventually Nampost. The Ministry of Finance will oversee fund management.

Shafudah emphasized that diversifying disbursement channels will reduce delays and improve timely access to financing. Loan amounts will range from N$60,000 to N$200,000.

Pilot Phase and Application Process

A pilot phase ran from August 1 to September 4 to gauge youth engagement and readiness for the full fund roll-out. Following the deadline, regional governors will submit applicant lists to the ministry, and development finance institutions will select beneficiaries.

Addressing Youth Unemployment Through Complementary Initiatives

With youth unemployment at 44.4%, Nyef is designed to empower young Namibians to start and grow businesses across various sectors. However, according to an International Labour Organisation (ILO) report, such funds need to be part of wider government efforts to effectively tackle youth unemployment.

The report cited Tanzania’s National Youth Fund experience, noting funding shortages and inadequate beneficiary training as challenges, though 89% of its loan recipients succeeded in creating employment.

Source: The Namibian

TECH

ByteDance Chip Design Staff Discover Reporting Shift to Singapore Unit Amid US-China Tensions

Chip design employees at Chinese tech giant ByteDance, largely based in Beijing and Shanghai, were surprised last week to find they now report to a Singapore-based unit, according to sources familiar with the situation.

The employees became aware of the change when moved to a new group on ByteDance’s internal messaging platform, highlighting a strategic restructuring intended to navigate ongoing U.S.-China export restrictions affecting advanced semiconductor technology access.

Navigating Export Controls

Since late 2023, U.S. regulations have prevented mainland China-based firms from using Taiwan’s TSMC—the world’s largest contract chip manufacturer—to produce high-performance AI chips. This shift in reporting lines to a Singapore entity may help ByteDance circumvent some of these restrictions.

ByteDance’s Singapore-registered entity, Picoheart, was incorporated in December 2023 and attracted attention last year with a 9.5% stake acquisition in Chinese memory chip maker Innostar. The company also operates large data centers in Singapore, where TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is based.

Chip Development Efforts

ByteDance, known internationally as TikTok’s parent company, has intensified efforts since 2022 to develop proprietary application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) to lessen reliance on suppliers like Nvidia. While it does not currently outsource chip manufacturing to TSMC, sources say ByteDance has collaborated with U.S. chip designer Broadcom on developing an advanced AI processor slated for TSMC production.

Unlike rivals Alibaba and Baidu, ByteDance has launched fewer chips to date, focusing mainly on inference chips that handle less intensive AI tasks rather than training workloads. Its chip portfolio includes video decoding and networking chips, with a dedicated team working on AI applications.

Talent Expansion and Future Outlook

Recent job postings indicate ongoing hiring for chip-related roles, including AI chip specialists, underscoring ByteDance’s commitment to growing its semiconductor division amidst geopolitical challenges.

Source: Reuters

EVENT