WINDHOEK – Namibia and India have entered a new chapter in their long-standing relationship, following the official state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Windhoek on Wednesday.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah hosted an official luncheon in honour of Modi, where she acknowledged 35 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The visit concluded with the signing of several agreements aimed at boosting cooperation across key sectors.
These include climate resilience, agriculture, health, energy, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. Namibia and India also agreed to deepen academic ties through an MoU between Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology and the Namibian University of Science and Technology.
Among the signed instruments was a framework agreement on the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), aimed at strengthening Namibia’s capacity to withstand climate-related disasters such as drought. The country also signed onto the Global Biofuels Alliance, an initiative that supports the use of sustainable biofuels in global energy transitions.
The two countries signed a cybersecurity cooperation deal, alongside a commitment to share scalable digital solutions. These agreements are expected to support Namibia’s efforts to expand digital governance and innovation.
The Indian government further pledged support for entrepreneurship through the planned establishment of an Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), designed to grow the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
On health cooperation, the Indian government is expected to support Namibia with medical equipment, including a Bhabhatron Radiotherapy Machine, as well as anti-malaria drugs to strengthen the country’s public health systems.
India has also played a role in capacity building, with Namibian citizens receiving training in diplomacy, security, and IT. In 2023, both countries jointly launched the India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT) at the Namibian University of Science and Technology.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia is ready to work closely with India on projects that promote digital inclusion, climate sustainability and economic empowerment.
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