The document discusses the need for economic databases in Namibia. It provides background on NamBizDotCom, which was established in 1999 to create business and consumer databases for Namibia. The databases contain information on over 11,000 businesses and 250,000 individuals. NamBizDotCom provides various services including marketing services, reports, and training. The databases are used by financial institutions, legal professionals, and the government. Benefits of the databases are also discussed, including helping small businesses, credit risk management, and regional/international trade.

1. Economic databases of
Namibia
Presentation to
Bank of Namibia
21 July 2008

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Obstructions
 2000 to 2008 – Information and
Communications Bill for Namibia not yet
finalised
 Privacy act?
 Data protection regulations?

6. 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

7. 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

8. Business Database
 11,000 businesses
 Contact Details
 Ownership
 Management
 Classification
 Employee’s
 Financials
 Balance Sheet
 Income Statement
 Ratio’s

9. NamPerson Database
 250,000 individuals
 Full Names
 Date of Birth
 ID Number
 Contact details
 Educational
Qualifications
 Employment Details

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

11. NamBiz Clients
 Financial Institutions
 Asset Managers
 Credit Providers
 Legal Profession
 Government
 Trade and Investment promotion
 Market analysis

12. 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

13. Financial Ratios
 Liquidity
 Current Ratio
 Acid Test
 Solvency Ratios
 Debt ratio
 Gearing ration
 Profitability Ratios
 Gross Profit Margin
 Net Profit Ratio

14. 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

15. Creditreform on the Web

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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

19. Benefits
 Regional and international trade
 Information available for international companies
wanting to do business with Namibians
 International company information available to
Namibian companies

20. 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

21. 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)

22. Contact Details
 Milton Louw
 Telephone: + 264 61 253141
 Fax: +264 61 253102
 Email: milton @iit.com.na
 Cellular: 081 3043282
 Switch: 0608 038 832