Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA and India have agreed to deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation, with a focus on value addition, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, services and digitalisation following the conclusion of the fourth India–Namibia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) session in New Delhi.
The two-day meeting, which concluded on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, resulted in the adoption of Agreed Minutes signed by Namibia’s Executive Director in the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, and Amit Kumar, Joint Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce.
Bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries increased to US$592.94 million in 2025/26, from US$568.40 million in 2024/25. India’s exports stood at US$349.09 million, while imports from Namibia amounted to US$243.85 million.
Photos: Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation-Namibia
India’s engineering exports to Namibia increased by 124.06% to US$30.24 million, while pharmaceutical and medical device exports reached US$36.50 million. India is Namibia’s second-largest pharmaceutical source, accounting for a 16.4% share.
The countries agreed to strengthen cooperation across the critical minerals value chain, including exploration, offtake, processing and downstream beneficiation of lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements.
The two sides also agreed to designate Invest India and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board as investment focal points, with designated officials from each country.
Cooperation will also be expanded in railways and rolling stock, solar and wind power, battery storage, electricity transmission, green hydrogen, biofuels and desalination.
A dedicated Services Working Group will be established and is expected to meet no later than February 2027 and submit its work plan to the JTC. The countries also agreed to establish a joint working group on pharmaceuticals and services.
In the health sector, the first Joint Working Group under the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in health and medicine is expected to be convened by December 2026. An agreement on cooperation involving Janaushadhi and HLL Lifecare Limited is also at an advanced stage of finalisation.
The two countries further agreed to continue rolling out the instant payment system based on India’s Unified Payments Interface, which was launched in Namibia as WayaMe in June 2026. Proposals are also being considered for a FinTech Cooperation Framework between the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Namibia.
The meeting also advanced discussions on the India–Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement. The terms of reference have been finalised and are scheduled for signature on 12 August, with negotiations expected to begin within one month and conclude within a year.
Other areas discussed included agriculture and food security, small and medium-sized enterprises, textiles, tourism and sports. Namibia has also been invited to participate in India’s Special Notified Zones in Surat and Mumbai, as well as the India Rough Gemstones Sourcing Show, with training support in diamond cutting, polishing and jewellery design.
The JTC serves as the main bilateral mechanism for reviewing trade, investment and economic cooperation between Namibia and India. The fifth session is scheduled to take place in Namibia in 2028.
