Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA is set to strengthen trade and investment ties with China through a series of business forums and sector engagements taking place alongside President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s State Visit to the People’s Republic of China from 6 to 10 July 2026.
The Namibia–China Trade Mission and Business Forums will focus on strategic sectors including agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, ICT and innovation, education, health and pharmaceuticals, clean energy, infrastructure, and transport and logistics.
Businesses interested in accessing the Chinese market have also been encouraged to register for the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board’s (NIPDB) Export to China Webinar, which will focus on opportunities arising from China’s zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries.
The planned engagements follow growing cooperation between Namibia and China in trade, investment, energy, and industrial development.
Recently, Namibian officials and business representatives highlighted new opportunities for deeper economic cooperation during the Namibia–Shandong Business Forum held in Windhoek.
The half-day forum brought together government officials and private-sector representatives from Namibia and China’s Shandong Province for policy discussions, business-to-business engagements, and investment matchmaking.
Hosted by Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Trade, with support from the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, the forum focused on sectors such as energy, mining and mineral beneficiation, health and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and agro-processing.
In remarks delivered on her behalf, Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi said Namibia remains committed to strengthening economic cooperation with strategic international partners.
“Namibia is open for business and ready to deepen economic cooperation with reliable and forward-looking partners such as Shandong Province,” the statement read.
The Chinese delegation included senior officials and private-sector executives from major industrial sectors, who presented potential investment and cooperation opportunities to more than 100 participants attending the forum.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, O’Brien Hekandjo, Strategic Executive for Electricity at the City of Windhoek, said the forum created practical opportunities for cooperation, particularly in the energy and renewable energy sectors.
“I think there are quite many synergies between Namibia and China. One of the areas I was particularly interested in was energy and renewable energy, particularly battery storage as well,” Hekandjo said.
He noted that Namibia remains heavily dependent on imported electricity and fuel due to limited conventional power-generation capacity, making renewable energy and battery storage technologies increasingly important.
Hekandjo added that China’s expertise in battery storage technology could help Namibia stabilise its electricity grid and maximise its renewable energy potential.
“The Chinese are actually the world leaders when it comes to battery storage. I do believe this technology can play a huge role here in Namibia,” he said.
