Economic databases of Namibia

Presentation to

Bank of Namibia

21 July 2008

Introduction Namibia

Very little business information infrastructure Business database started in 1991 for NCCI Usage in Paris, France at UNIDO for investment

promotion Economic business database commercially

created in 1999 as NamBizDotCom cc

Reasons for an economic database Access to credit Risk management Fraud prevention Citizen information

Access to enabling documents Profiling of people and households Electronic health register Financial details - banking

History Aug 2000 – Workshop on Proposed

Economical Information System for Namibia Dec 2000 – Business plan prepared June 2002 to July 2003 – Training of 2

Namibians in Germany Jan 2004 – Business census Dec 2005 – Persons dbase started

Obstructions 2000 to 2008 – Information and

Communications Bill for Namibia not yet finalised

Privacy act? Data protection regulations?

Insurance Industry Needs Finance Minister legislates 5% investment in

unlisted companies – 2007 Target met by 2008? Investigative reports needed for risk

management = Financial Ratio Reports Comparison across sectors / businesses

NamBizDotCom Business and Consumer database Website – 100,000 visits per month Email newsletter – 1,700 subscribers

Information provider: Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority Mauritius Export Development and Investment Authority Namibian SME Survey 1999, 2003 Public Access to ICT – Washington University

Business Database 11,000 businesses Contact Details Ownership Management Classification Employee’s Financials

Balance Sheet Income Statement Ratio’s

NamPerson Database 250,000 individuals Full Names Date of Birth ID Number Contact details Educational

Qualifications Employment Details

NamBiz Services Marketing services Consumer and Business Reports Debt Collection Publications Business Training International Trade References Company ratings (PTY Ltd’s)

NamBiz Clients Financial Institutions Asset Managers Credit Providers Legal Profession Government

Trade and Investment promotion Market analysis

NamBiz Information Reports Contact Details Legal Form Foundation Registration Number Shareholders Share Capital Management

Classification Staff Turnover Assets Liabilities Bankers Mode of Payment Credit Opinion

Financial Ratios Liquidity

Current Ratio Acid Test

Solvency Ratios Debt ratio Gearing ration

Profitability Ratios Gross Profit Margin Net Profit Ratio

Creditreform Germany Founded in 1879 180 branches in Europe 165,000 members Online data on 19 million companies Auskunfte available online at

www.creditreform.de

Creditreform on the Web

Benefits The anticipated beneficiaries are subdivided

into 5 broad categories: Small- and medium-sized enterprises Business-to-Business (trading) Financial sector (Credit providers) Government Regional and international trade

Benefits Small- and medium-sized enterprises

Objective investigative reports are available Continuous monitoring – early warning system for SME

service providers Creates a trading and payment history for use by the SME

(access to financing etc.) Business-to-Business (trading)

Objective information is available on potential clients (can do business with new clients)

Changes in the financial circumstances of clients is reported.

Benefits Financial sector (Credit providers)

Objective reporting on business assists with credit risk management National Loan Register – personal and commercial

Government Business addresses (postal and street) are available for information

posting or physical visitation Companies can be sorted by town, region and business classification

for identification of entrepreneurial niches Black Economic Empowerment / Namibianisation index can be

reported Macro-economic statistics available instantly through continuous

research

Benefits Regional and international trade

Information available for international companies wanting to do business with Namibians

International company information available to Namibian companies

Background on Milton Louw Professional

Secretary to the ICT Alliance Lecturer: Cambridge International Diploma in Business Trainer: MS Office suite

Consultancies JCC Service Providers Database (2000) E-commerce in Namibia – ECA report Economic Dbase for Namibia – Creditreform Germany

Background on Milton Louw Database Development

Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

Investment Promotion Service (Paris, France) Ministry of Trade and Industry (EPZ Programme) Joint Consultative Committee (SME Service Providers) Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority

(Namibian Export Development) Mauritius Export Development and Investment Authority

(Namibia, Angola & Zambia Export Development)

Contact Details Milton Louw

Telephone: + 264 61 253141 Fax: +264 61 253102 Email: milton @iit.com.na Cellular: 081 3043282 Switch: 0608 038 832