Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Namibia on July 9, 2025, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the African nation in nearly three decades. This visit is the final leg of his five-nation tour. The visit is expected to deepen the ties between India and Namibia, building upon their historic relationship rooted in India's support for Namibia's independence struggle.
India was among the earliest advocates for Namibian freedom, raising the issue at the United Nations as early as 1946 and hosting the first overseas office of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) in 1986. The Namibian people and leadership view India as a dependable and trusted friend, warmly recalling India's support during their liberation struggle.
During his stay in Windhoek, PM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and address a joint sitting of Namibia's Parliament. A key highlight of the visit will be the signing of a technology agreement enabling unified payment interoperability between the two countries, aimed at enhancing cooperation in the fintech and digital sectors. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on expanding cooperation in critical areas such as energy security, health, and pharmaceuticals are expected to be exchanged between the two countries. Furthermore, PM Modi will be conferred with the highest civilian award of Namibia. He will also pay homage to the Founding Father and first President of Namibia, the late Dr. Sam Nujoma.
Namibia's rich reserves of uranium, copper, cobalt, rare earth minerals, and its recent oil discoveries are drawing renewed global attention. The country is the world's fourth-largest producer of uranium oxide, which fuels the nuclear industry, and also produces zinc and gem-quality diamonds. With growing global demand for clean energy and battery storage, Namibia's potential to develop new mining projects for cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements has gained fresh relevance. India has important stakes in the African continent, where it hopes to deepen ties of trade, development, security, and energy cooperation. There is great potential for a mutually beneficial energy security and critical minerals partnership between India and Namibia.
Bilateral trade between India and Namibia stood at around $814 million in 2023–24, with Indian exports accounting for over half that figure. Indian investments in Namibia are estimated at nearly $800 million, largely in the mining sector, including zinc and diamonds. The countries are exploring opportunities to expand cooperation in mining, energy, health, agriculture, and infrastructure. Negotiations for a Preferential Trade Arrangement between India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with Namibia as coordinator, are ongoing.
India continues to extend development assistance and capacity-building support to Namibia through scholarships, defense training programs, and technical cooperation. Indian experts are deputed to Namibian institutions, and an Indian Air Force Technical Team has been training Namibian helicopter pilots since 1996. Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scheme, more than 1,000 Namibian candidates have been trained in India so far.
Bilateral relations have continued to strengthen over the years through high-level exchanges, development cooperation, and people-to-people contacts. In June of last year, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Namibia, calling on President Geingob and co-chairing the first Joint Commission Meeting.
A notable symbol of the trust between the two nations remains the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia to India's Kuno National Park in 2022 — the world's first intercontinental transfer of a major carnivore species. This visit will shape the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit and Global South Priorities. Apart from deepening cooperation in key sectors such as energy, oil and gas, critical minerals and digital infrastructure, health will also be one of the key agenda of the bilateral talks between the two leaders, especially in terms of access to affordable medicines and traditional Indian health solutions. Introduction of Jan Aushadhi scheme in Namibia will also be discussed.
