There are many unique (and often overlooked) opportunities in Namibia for real estate developers, investors and other businesses from the U.S., particularly in the areas of clean energy, manufacturing, commercial fishing, communications, banking and eco-tourism, but although the opportunities are great, it can be difficult to do business there.

You will learn (if you have not learned already) that there is a significant gap between: (a) what you can do in the U.S., with in-house counsel and the professionals hired here; and (b) what can be done in Namibia with the professionals hired there. The following are some typical problems that emerge from this space in-between:

• The best local attorneys, accountants and other professionals in Namibia are not hired;
• Miscommunication, lack of communication and conflicting unspoken assumptions based on cultural differences with the professionals you hire in Namibia;
• E-mail that’s not returned and voicemail that’s not answered;
• Zoom conferences that fail due to avoidable technical issues;
• Inability to identify the right decision-makers in the national government;
• Inability to get meetings (Zoom or in-person) scheduled with the right decision-makers in the government;
• Failure to attain definable objectives at meetings, or to memorialize in writing what is accomplished, and lack of follow-up on action to be taken;
• Ineffective advocacy resulting from not understanding how business is done in the U.S.;
• Assignments that do not get completed when expected;
• Unnecessary delays and sliding schedules; and
• A variety of unpredictable problems that require a swat-team approach for resolution.

These types of problems are not reasons to avoid doing business in Namibia (the opportunities are simply to great there), but they are reasons to have Khomas Consulting on your team. It will facilitate development, investment and doing business in Namibia by “filling the space” that exist between: (a) what you can do in the U.S., with in-house counsel and the professionals hired here; and (b) what can be done in Namibia, with attorneys, accountants and other professionals hired there. It will do that by providing advice, access and advocacy.

The nature and scope of the services provided by Khomas Consulting are comprehensive, confidential and custom-tailored to fit the specific needs of each client, and may evolve over time as the needs of the client evolve. Examples of those services include the following:

• Assist with the evaluation and selection of professionals in Namibia (i.e. attorneys, accountants, engineers, surveyors and architects);
• Provide a “second set of eyes” for review of communications and work product produced by your professionals in Namibia, and participation in conference calls and meetings;
• Assist with the coordination of due diligence investigations for acquisitions, including secondary review and comments regarding due diligence materials;
• Provide introductions to governmental officials at the national level and schedule meetings (both virtual and in-person) and accompany clients to in-person meetings;
• At your request, serve as a business advocate to further your business interests and achieve your business goals;
• Review research on specific topics (e.g., specific regulatory matters) and assistance in resolving issues encountered;
• Work with local professionals on matters related to taxation, import/export taxes, tax-free zones and repatriation of capital;
• Assist with solicited and unsolicited public-private-partnership applications and coordination with the PPP Unit;
• Provide in-house personnel with education, including an overview of the history, government, economy, people and wildlife (interesting and fast-moving 1-hour Zoom/PowerPoint presentation filled with great photographs);
• Conduct training sessions on Namibian business etiquette, including social customs and protocol when conducting business meetings and in-person negotiations;
• Provide Covid-19 information, including testing, safeguards and related requirements and restrictions;
• Advise regarding visa requirements and coordination with the Namibian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to obtained any required travel or work visas;
• Make recommendations for miscellaneous other matters, such as air travel, lodging, restaurants, sightseeing, luxury safari tours and big game hunting; and
• Trouble-shoot problems that may arise in pursuit of your business objectives.
• Provide consultation regarding “all other matters Namibian.”

Since the services provided to you will be custom-tailored to your needs, the foregoing list is not all-inclusive and may include things you do not need.

Confidentiality is important and all non-public information regarding the work is disclosed only on an as-needed basis to retained professionals and others authorized by you. The consulting services will be performed by Stephen W. Snively on behalf of Khomas Consulting and expressly excludes anything considered the practice of law.

There are some amazing foreign investment and business opportunities in Namibia. Khomas Consulting can fill the space which exists between what you can do in: (a) the U.S., with in-house counsel and the professionals hired here; and (b) in Namibia, with attorneys, accountants and other professionals hired there, and in so doing, enable you to accomplish your business objectives there with fewer hassles, delays and costs.