Staff Reporter
THE United States has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Namibia’s economic growth through investment and commercial partnerships, with senior US officials and business leaders meeting Namibian government representatives and industry stakeholders to discuss opportunities in mining, energy and investment.
US Ambassador to Namibia John Giordano hosted a Mining, Energy and Investment Leaders Reception at the US Embassy in Windhoek, bringing together senior government officials, mining and energy executives, financial institutions, investors, private equity firms and professional services organisations.
The event was attended by US Department of Energy Deputy Under Secretary Mike Kopp and a delegation that included Sonja Horgen, US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Country Manager for Africa and the Middle East.
Giordano said Namibia is strategically positioned to benefit from global economic shifts driven by technological advancement, energy demand and the growing need for critical minerals.
“As I describe in The Namibian Mining and Energy Handbook, we are living through one of the most significant transformations of the global economy in generations,” he said, adding that technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and quantum computing depend on reliable electricity, resilient infrastructure, secure supply chains and critical minerals.
He highlighted Namibia’s natural resource potential, noting that the country is the world’s third-largest producer of uranium, has significant rare earth deposits and hosts the emerging Orange Basin petroleum province.
Giordano said investor confidence depends on strong institutions, transparent governance and predictable investment conditions.
“Political stability, the rule of law, permitting discipline and transparent fiscal terms are not accidents of geography or geology — they are deliberate governance choices that earn the confidence of the international investment community,” he said.
He added that such confidence must be built domestically through sound governance and effective institutions.
The ambassador said the United States’ approach to commercial engagement is based on transparency, private-sector participation, innovation and long-term value creation.
“American companies bring world-class technology, disciplined project management and deep capital markets, together with a genuine commitment to local hiring, skills transfer and the development of domestic supply chains,” he said.
Giordano emphasised that US investment supports Namibia’s ambitions to develop value chains across mining and energy sectors, including processing, manufacturing and recycling.
“We are committed to a full-value-chain approach — mining, refining, processing, manufacturing, end-use applications and recycling — which means Namibia’s local growth agenda is not a threat to American investment. It is entirely consistent with how American companies create lasting value,” he said.
The reception highlighted the role of private capital in supporting Namibia’s economic development, with participants discussing ways to unlock sustainable investment and strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
The engagement forms part of a week of meetings involving the US ambassador, the Department of Energy delegation, Namibian government leaders, state-owned enterprises, financial institutions, investors and American companies operating in Namibia during the 13th Namibia Mining Expo & Conference.
Photo: U.S. Embassy Namibia
