Staff Reporter
A SEVEN-DAY Namibia-Germany Enterprise and Supplier Development Mission has opened opportunities for partnerships in local supplier development, technical training, renewable energy and industrial skills, with one memorandum of understanding (MoU) being finalised and four additional programmes under consideration.
The mission, which concluded this week, connected Namibian businesses and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions with German companies and training organisations in Hamburg and Stuttgart.
A 16-member delegation, comprising 13 representatives from Namibian businesses, industry bodies and training institutions, as well as three representatives from Hyphen Hydrogen Energy and GIZ, engaged more than 50 German companies and institutions through business-to-business meetings, technical workshops, industry forums and site visits.
The programme forms part of Hyphen’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme and follows a tripartite memorandum of understanding between Hyphen, Afrika-Verein der Deutschen Wirtschaft and Baden-Württemberg International. GIZ and ENERTRAG also supported the programme.
The mission focused on moving cooperation beyond high-level discussions towards practical partnerships in areas including supplier qualification, procurement readiness, occupational health and safety, technical mentorship, apprenticeships, instructor development, industrial automation, solar and wind energy, fabrication, welding, logistics, water systems and equipment training.
German organisations engaged during the mission included Fraunhofer IWES, STILL GmbH, Stadtwerke Stuttgart, Murrelektronik, Siemens Energy, Siemens South Africa, the International Institute of Welding, Dräger Safety, VDMA, Renewable Energy Hamburg, GFA Consulting Group, Lucas-Nülle, KSB, CMS, the German Solar Association and the German Renewable Energy Federation.
Toni Beukes, Head of Environment, Social and Governance at Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, said the mission was intended to create practical implementation pathways rather than simply establish introductions.
“The scale of Namibia’s green industrial ambitions require partnerships that strengthen local enterprises, prepare our workforce and connect Namibian suppliers to international technical standards and markets,” Beukes said.
The delegation examined Germany’s company-based apprenticeship and master craftsman systems, including three-year work-integrated training pathways. German training and craft institutions expressed interest in supporting the phased adaptation of such approaches in Namibia, including possible two-way placements for Namibian and German trainees.
Technical engagements also identified potential areas for cooperation.
Discussions with Fraunhofer IWES covered wind energy, HySecunda and the possible local delivery of training, while STILL explored electric and hydrogen forklift training and potential equipment support for Namibian vocational institutions.
Stadtwerke Stuttgart shared experience in renewable energy integration, municipal energy systems, hydrogen safety, recycling and student exchanges.
Murrelektronik also expressed interest in entering the Namibian market and exploring technical partnerships, automation training, local representation and after-sales services.
Johannes Shipepe, Senior Economic Development Manager for Local Content at Hyphen, said the mission gave Namibian companies direct access to German technical partners, original equipment manufacturers, training providers and industry networks.
“Our priority now is to translate these engagements into supplier assessments, technical workshops, training partnerships and market-entry arrangements with clear responsibilities and timelines,” Shipepe said.
One MoU is currently being finalised, while four follow-up programmes are being explored in enterprise partnerships, technical training, supplier capability and renewable energy cooperation.
Hyphen and its partners are also preparing for reciprocal German missions to Namibia, anticipated in September and November 2026, subject to programme confirmation.
The visits are expected to include engagements with Namibian companies and TVET institutions, technical workshops and site visits, while advancing partnerships initiated during the German mission.
The partners are also exploring the establishment of a longer-term Namibia-Germany ESD platform focused on supplier qualification, joint ventures, technical mentorship, standards alignment, workforce development and localisation of selected renewable energy and industrial value-chain activities.
Hyphen is developing Namibia’s flagship gigawatt-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia project, with its ESD and skills development programmes aimed at strengthening the readiness of Namibian companies and workers to participate across the project’s construction and operational value chains.
Early areas of focus include solar-related opportunities, electrical contracting, fabrication, welding, logistics, equipment services and technical training.
Photo: Hyphen Hydrogen Energy
