Why Ohangwena

The gateway between Namibia and Angola

A densely populated, agrarian and trade-driven region in north-central Namibia, combining a subsistence-agriculture base with one of the country’s busiest land border posts.

At a glance

The region in numbers

337,729

Total populationNSA 2023 Census

2nd

Most populous of Namibia’s 14 regions

10,706 km²

Total area

12

ConstituenciesRegional capital: Eenhana

2.7% p.a.

Population growth2016–2023

85%+

Population in rural villages and settlements

Source: Namibia Statistics Agency 2023 Population and Housing Census; Ohangwena Regional Council, via the Ohangwena Region Investment Prospectus.

Strategic location

Corridors, borders and infrastructure

Angolan border

The region shares its entire northern boundary with Cunene Province, southern Angola — a province of roughly 1.8 million people.

SADC market access

The Oshikango/Santa Clara border post, Namibia’s busiest northern crossing, provides direct access to approximately 349.5 million SADC consumers.

24-hour border operations

Santa Clara has operated on a 24-hour basis since 2024, registering a daily average of roughly 2,600 to 3,000 crossings.

The B1 corridor

The B1 national road links Oshikango through Ondangwa and Oshakati to Windhoek and the deep-water port of Walvis Bay.

Trans-Caprivi extension

Passing through Eenhana, connecting the region eastward to Rundu, Katima Mulilo and onwards into Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Bulk water and roads

The Ohangwena II Wellfield Scheme is expanding bulk water infrastructure, and the Eenhana–Ondobe road rehabilitation entered its fourth phase in December 2025.

Market data

What is quantified, and what is not yet

The Investment Prospectus sets out market metrics for each priority sector, and states plainly where regional data has not yet been compiled rather than estimating it.

Nationally, Namibia produces approximately 371,800 tonnes of mahangu a year, meeting about 52% of domestic demand; the remaining 48% is imported. A regional breakdown of production volumes, marketable surplus and the resulting storage or milling deficit has not yet been compiled. For the Oshikango logistics corridor, daily crossings and the adjacent Angolan population are documented, but freight tonnage, customs throughput and warehouse occupancy are not yet published at this crossing. Healthcare and retail market sizing is at concept stage.

Closing those gaps, through the EOI Investment Readiness Workbook developed with the relevant line ministries, is identified in the prospectus as the single highest-value next step.

What this means for your submission

Applicants are responsible for making their own reasonable independent enquiries. The Office of the Governor makes no representation or warranty that information in the notice, the Investor Map or the Investor Action Plan is accurate, current or complete.

Investor support

Who supports this process

Promotion Partner

Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB)

National and international marketing and dissemination of this EOI, investor facilitation, matchmaking, and support with permits, incentives, and regulatory processes.

Lead Financing Arranger

Development Bank of Namibia (DBN)

Structuring and co-financing options, blended-finance facilitation, and financial due diligence support for shortlisted projects.

Transactional Advisor

Monasa Advisory & Associates

Designs and administers the EOI process, provides technical committee secretariat support, and leads due diligence and Investment Facilitation Agreement drafting support.

Read the Investment Prospectus