Staff Reporter
VICE President Lucia Witbooi is pushing for stronger partnerships between Namibia and Kenya, emphasising that the two countries have complementary strengths that can support industrial growth, regional value chains and sustainable economic development.
“Kenya has established itself as a continental leader in innovation, financial technology, entrepreneurship, logistics, and agribusiness. Namibia, on the other hand, offers political stability, sound governance, strategic logistics infrastructure, abundant natural resources, and significant opportunities in energy, mining, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. Together, our countries possess complementary strengths that can support industrial growth, regional value chains, and sustainable economic development,” she said.
The Vice President made these remarks at the Namibia-Kenya Business Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. She observed that African economies have historically traded more with external markets than among themselves, despite the continent’s vast untapped potential, and stressed the need for a new economic approach.
Photos: Namibian Presidency.
“For far too long, African economies have traded more with the rest of the world than with one another. We have exported raw materials while importing finished products. We have operated in fragmented markets despite the immense potential that exists within our continent. The time has come for Africa to redefine this economic model,” Witbooi said.
She noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area offers African countries an opportunity to transform the continent into an integrated market driven by industrialisation, innovation, value addition and intra-African trade.
“However, agreements alone will not transform our economies. Transformation requires deliberate partnerships between governments and the private sector. It requires investment in productive sectors. It requires African businesses to collaborate, innovate, and expand across borders,” Witbooi said.
The Vice President further noted that Africa’s growing youth population presents both a challenge and an opportunity, with young people capable of becoming a key force behind the continent’s industrialisation and economic transformation.
“For this reason, our partnerships must prioritise skills development, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and innovation,” she continued.
According to Witbooi, Namibia and Kenya are among the African countries strategically positioned to build a dynamic and mutually beneficial economic partnership. She highlighted the potential for strategic collaboration between the two countries in digital innovation, agribusiness, and the cultural and creative industries.
“Kenya’s strong ecosystem in technology, fintech and cultural and creative industry, combined with Namibia’s strategic location, stable business environment and expanding industrial base, presents significant opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships. At the same time, Namibia continues to pursue value addition in mining, expansion in agro-processing, growth in manufacturing and the development of modern logistics corridors anchored around the Port of Walvis Bay. We therefore welcome strategic partnerships with Kenyan businesses and investors in these sectors and many others,” the Vice President said.
