Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will co-chair the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Pretoria on 17 July 2026, with discussions expected to focus on trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and regional cooperation.
The summit will conclude a week of engagements between the two governments, beginning with a Senior Officials’ Session on 14 and 15 July, followed by a Ministerial Session on 16 July, co-chaired by Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola.
The BNC serves as the highest permanent bilateral cooperation mechanism between Namibia and South Africa, allowing the two countries to review and strengthen relations supported by more than 150 agreements covering political, diplomatic, economic, social, defence and security cooperation.
Key areas expected to be discussed include trade, investment and economic integration, border management, infrastructure development, energy and connectivity, disaster management, humanitarian cooperation, defence and security, as well as regional and global matters.
A number of agreements and memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed during the session, reflecting the broad scope of cooperation between the neighbouring countries.
The summit will also coincide with the South Africa-Namibia Business Forum, held under the theme “Driving Regional Industrialisation, Investment and Sustainable Growth through Strategic South Africa-Namibia Partnerships.”
The forum will bring together government representatives, business leaders, investors and industry stakeholders to promote commercial partnerships, showcase investment opportunities and advance bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
It is expected to support business-to-business partnerships, regional value chain development, job creation and broader economic integration efforts.
The forum is hosted in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Trade, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Namibia and South Africa maintain a strong economic relationship and remain among each other’s key trading partners. Both countries are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which plays an important role in promoting regional industrialisation and economic integration.
During the summit, the two heads of state are expected to provide direction on deepening bilateral cooperation and advancing initiatives aimed at economic growth, regional integration and improving livelihoods.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah is scheduled to depart for South Africa on Thursday, 16 July 2026, and return to Namibia on Friday, 17 July 2026.
Photo: Namibian Presidency
