Namibia’s commodity-dependent economy is contracting as environmental and geopolitical pressures increase. Can the authorities turn the situation around? 

The governor of the Bank of Namibia, Ipumbu Shiimi, talks to Jason Mitchell about pushing up financial inclusion rates and surviving recession.

Despite the ongoing recession and a high proportion of non-performing loans, Namibia’s banks remain profitable. Jason Mitchell examines how they beat the odds.

Namibia has managed to overcome the worst of the global economic slump, while a huge new uranium mine could boost its growth greatly in the next few years. But the country still has plenty to do to tackle its most pressing social issues. 

Namibia’s banks are among the most sophisticated and safest in Africa, but they are coming under increasing pressure to service the country's unbanked population and small businesses. 

While The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks ranking published every July gives an insightful and unique snapshot of the state of the global banking market, our ranking of those banks featuring just below the ranking gives an excellent indication of the way in which the market is heading, and which countries and regions are on the rise.