Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah representing Namibia at the NASREC Expo Centre in Johannesburg for the 2025 G20 Leaders Summit – the first time the gathering of the world’s major economies is being hosted on African soil. The summit is expected to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges, including rising living costs, climate change, debt pressures on developing nations, rapid digital transformation, and global health risks.
For Namibia, the president’s participation provides a crucial platform to ensure the country’s concerns and priorities are reflected in debates affecting its economic and social future.
Photos: Namibian Presidency
During the session on Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, President Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered a strong intervention that echoed the shared sentiment among many leaders calling for a more balanced and equitable global economic system.
She stressed that Africa’s growing influence in the world economy must be recognised, adding that genuine global recovery requires solidarity and long-term sustainability. The president highlighted Namibia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen trade-driven growth through economic diversification, value addition and food security initiatives such as the Zero Hunger Road Map, underscoring the need to ensure no one is left behind.
Touching on responsible financing, Nandi-Ndaitwah pointed to Namibia’s successful redemption of its USD 750 million Eurobond as an example of sound fiscal management. However, she said that escalating debt-servicing obligations continue to strain development spending. She urged G20 members to improve global debt treatment frameworks and expand concessional financing for countries demonstrating transparent governance.
The president concluded by emphasising the need to reduce inequality, citing Namibia’s broadened social protection programmes for the elderly, children, women and rural populations. Her remarks reinforced calls for a more inclusive and representative global system that supports sustainable development for all nations.
