Namibia Tops Africa's Most Entrepreneur-Friendly Environment List

The Ashish J Thakkar Global Entrepreneurship Index has ranked Namibia the best country in Africa for prospective entrepreneurs to invest because the South African nation has the best enabling environment in the continent.

According to the index, Namibia beat eminent African nations like South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya to come 42nd.

Some of the other African countries on the ranking include; Rwanda 43rd, Botswana 44th, South Africa 46th, Kenya 60th, Ghana 62th, Egypt 66th, Ivory Coast 67 and Nigeria 70th.


The index ranks the global entrepreneurial environments assessing 85 countries using yardsticks such as policy, infrastructure, education, entrepreneurial environment and finance.

Meanwhile, the index clearly showed that Singapore is the best environment for entrepreneurs in the world. The inaugural report was prepared by Mara Foundation and Opinium Research which focuses on the state of entrepreneurship around the world. The index is the brainchild of entrepreneur Ashish J Thakkar.

Commenting, Ashish J Thakkar, Founder of Mara Group & Mara Foundation said: “Through the work of Mara Group over the past 20 years, I have come to recognise the immense contribution that entrepreneurs make to economies and societies around the world – particularly in relation to job creation. In recent years, however, it has become more and more apparent that governments and the private sector are simply not doing enough to support entrepreneurs in their endeavours. With the creation of this Index, we hope to provide some solid policy recommendations that will help guide discussions and improve entrepreneurial environments globally.”