Latest news with #NetumboNandi-Ndaitwah
Business Insider
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Namibia outlines bold strategy as first female president targets $6,000 income per capita
The Southern African country of Namibia, under its relatively new administration, led by the country's first female president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has initiated plans to regain its status as an upper-middle-income country. Namibia, under President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is working to regain upper-middle-income status after being downgraded to lower-middle-income by the World Bank. The government targets 7% economic growth with initiatives focused on green hydrogen, renewable energy, and value-added manufacturing. Future goals include raising per capita income to $6,000 by 2030, generating 30,000 green jobs, and enhancing renewable energy capacity to 700 megawatts by 2028. Very recently, the World Bank revised Namibia status to a lower-middle-income country, following some fiscal struggles the country had endured. In response, Namibia's current administration has set an economic growth target of 7%, which is expected to raise the country's wealth status back to upper-middle-income. This plan is hoisted on its green hydrogen, renewable energy, and value-added manufacturing initiatives, which the country hopes would increase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Prior to the World Bank's downgrade, Namibia's gross national income per capita slipped slightly below the $4,496 requirement, owing to decreased economic activity and increasing population growth. As reported by Bloomberg, the country's economy grew by 3.7% last year, down from 4.4% in 2023, due to a drop in mining activity. 'We take this to be a temporary setback,' President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said in the foreword to her government's latest national development plan. 'It is possible to increase the per capita income above $6,000 by 2030.' Namibia intends to generate 30,000 green employment by 2030 and nearly increase its renewable energy capacity to 700 megawatts by 2028. It is projected that green hydrogen, in particular, would strengthen clean energy exports and serve as an anchor for future industrial growth. The country is one of the world's leading uranium producers, which solidifies it as a hub for green hydrogen and critical minerals. Namibia also has plans to kickstart production of its offshore oil and gas discoveries by 2029. The goal is to raise manufacturing's GDP share from 15.6% to 18%. The government will channel resource revenues, especially from mining, oil, gas, and green hydrogen, into strategic investments while also utilizing domestic and foreign public and private finance to fund its objectives. Namibia's regional energy goal with Botswana In May, it was reported that Botswana and Namibia were taking crucial measures toward deeper regional energy integration, with talks starting about establishing a jointly operated oil refinery. According to the Namibian, this effort, which aims to improve energy security and reduce dependency on imports, was a main agenda item during Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's recent working visit to Gaborone, where she met with her Botswana counterpart, President Duma Boko. Botswana and Namibia's joint venture to build an oil refinery and potentially coordinate oil production activities has the potential to significantly alter the region's energy landscape in several ways. Namibia imported $1.52 billion of refined petroleum in 2023, making it the country's largest import and ranking 92nd among global importers. Key suppliers were India ($395 million), the UAE ($284 million), Saudi Arabia ($206 million), Oman ($163 million), and Malaysia ($108 million), demonstrating Namibia's reliance on foreign energy, mainly from Asia and the Middle East.
The Star
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Namibia plans major farmland expansion, crop export growth by 2030
WINDHOEK, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has committed to expanding large-scale farming land and increasing the value of strategic crop exports to enhance food security, bolster the agro-industry, and increase rural incomes by 2030 as part of its new national development plan. Known as the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), the plan was launched Monday by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to guide economic and social policies from 2025 to 2030. According to the plan, the government will increase the area under large-scale crop production from 11,200 hectares in 2024 to 130,000 hectares by 2030, a key part of a broader effort to modernize agriculture and increase the country's resilience to climate change. The policy also sets a target to raise the value of strategic crop exports from 1.9 billion Namibian dollars (about 107.9 million U.S. dollars) to 2.8 billion Namibian dollars over the same period. In addition to expanding cultivated land, the government aims to enhance value chains by investing in irrigation systems, agro-processing facilities, and logistics infrastructure. The NDP6 also prioritizes research and innovation in crop production, including climate-resilient seed varieties and modern farming techniques, particularly in northern communal areas where food insecurity remains high. Government support will focus on strategic commodities such as maize, wheat, mahangu (pearl millet), horticulture, and oilseeds, with an emphasis on both domestic food production and export potential, according to the plan. Agriculture remains a key part of Namibia's economy, providing jobs for about one in five individuals. Through the NDP6, the country is expected to make farming more productive and sustainable.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Seeking ties, not competition with Africa: PM Modi in Namibia
PM Modi in Namibia NEW DELHI: India and Namibia discussed enhancing ties in defence, maritime security, digital technology and UPI, energy and critical minerals as PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Windhoek during the final leg of his five-nation tour. Addressing Namibia's Parliament, PM Modi also laid out India's vision for Africa - freedom to future - and said India sought to cooperate, not compete, and not take but to build and grow together. "Let us create a future defined not by power, but by partnership, not by dominance, but by dialogue, not by exclusion, but by equity," he said. "We believe that Africa must not be just a source of raw materials. Africa must lead in value creation and sustainable growth. Let our children not only inherit the freedom we fought for, but the future we will build together," the PM said. Some of the remarks by Modi are seen as a subtle dig at China, which has a vast presence in the continent, at a time many African countries are looking to diversify their partnerships. According to an Indian statement, Modi thanked Namibia for its strong support and solidarity extended to the people of India in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. They agreed to strengthen the global fight against terrorism. They also committed to work together to amplify the voice of the Global South. PM Modi thanked Nandi-Ndaitwah for Namibia's support in the cheetah conservation project in India and invited Namibia to join International Big Cat Alliance. "They (cheetahs) are happy and have adapted well in their new home. They have grown in numbers as well. Clearly, they are enjoying their time," the PM said, while welcoming the fact that Namibia has adopted India's UPI payment system. PM Modi also said India would be scaling up development cooperation efforts through capacity building programmes for Namibian experts and exploring partnerships in setting up manufacturing facilities in Namibia. He called for expediting preferential trade agreement that India is negotiating with Southern African Customs Union. Two MoUs were also signed.
Economic Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Modi, Namibian Prez push ties in defence, digital and minerals
Narendra Modi concluded his 5-country visit in Windhoek with a meeting with Namibia's President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. India and Namibia aim to strengthen ties in defence and maritime security. Digital technology and UPI are also focus areas. Cooperation in agriculture, health, energy, and critical minerals is planned. Namibia conferred its highest civilian award on Modi. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met President of Namibia, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Windhoek as the last stop in his 5-country visit and the two countries decided to push ties in defence, maritime security, digital technology & UPI besides energy and critical visit from India to Namibia at the level of Prime Minister took place after 27 years. This was also the first bilateral State Visit that President Nandi-Ndaitwah hosted after taking over office in March this two leaders held discussions on further strengthening bilateral ties in the areas of defence, maritime security, digital technology & UPI, agriculture, health and pharma, energy and critical minerals, an official President conferred on Prime Minister-Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis- the highest civilian award of satisfaction with the growth in bilateral trade, the leaders noted that full potential on this account was still to be tapped. In this regard, they called for discussions on India-SACU PTA to be expedited. Modi's trip will also boost bilateral cooperation on diamond trade and cooperation in the uranium sector. Namibia boasts the world's richest marine diamond deposits, with estimates exceeding 80 million carats. Namibia's marine diamond deposits are the most significant globally, with estimated reserves far exceeding those found on is also seeking to secure uranium supplies from Namibia, which is a significant uranium producer.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Modi, Namibian Prez push ties in defence, digital and minerals
Narendra Modi concluded his 5-country visit in Windhoek with a meeting with Namibia's President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. India and Namibia aim to strengthen ties in defence and maritime security. Digital technology and UPI are also focus areas. Cooperation in agriculture, health, energy, and critical minerals is planned. Namibia conferred its highest civilian award on Modi. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met President of Namibia, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Windhoek as the last stop in his 5-country visit and the two countries decided to push ties in defence, maritime security, digital technology & UPI besides energy and critical visit from India to Namibia at the level of Prime Minister took place after 27 years. This was also the first bilateral State Visit that President Nandi-Ndaitwah hosted after taking over office in March this two leaders held discussions on further strengthening bilateral ties in the areas of defence, maritime security, digital technology & UPI, agriculture, health and pharma, energy and critical minerals, an official President conferred on Prime Minister-Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis- the highest civilian award of satisfaction with the growth in bilateral trade, the leaders noted that full potential on this account was still to be tapped. In this regard, they called for discussions on India-SACU PTA to be expedited. Modi's trip will also boost bilateral cooperation on diamond trade and cooperation in the uranium sector. Namibia boasts the world's richest marine diamond deposits, with estimates exceeding 80 million carats. Namibia's marine diamond deposits are the most significant globally, with estimated reserves far exceeding those found on is also seeking to secure uranium supplies from Namibia, which is a significant uranium producer.
