Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Namibia underscores India's commitment to strengthening its relationship with Africa, emphasizing cooperation over competition. Modi's visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Namibia, signals a deepening of ties and a renewed focus on mutually beneficial partnerships.
India's engagement with Africa is rooted in historical solidarity, with India having supported Namibia's struggle for independence since long before the country gained freedom. Modi reiterated this commitment, emphasizing that India's support was not just in words but in action. This long-standing relationship forms the foundation for the current drive to expand cooperation across various sectors.
During his visit, Modi articulated India's vision for its relationship with Africa, highlighting a desire to "build together" rather than compete. He emphasized that India's goal is to foster mutual growth, not to exploit resources. This approach aims to position Africa not merely as a source of raw materials but as a leader in value creation and sustainable development.
Several agreements were signed during the visit to bolster bilateral cooperation in key areas. These include setting up an Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Namibia and cooperation in health and medicine. A technology agreement was also signed to enable unified payment interoperability between the two countries, aimed at enhancing cooperation in fintech and digital sectors. Namibia also completed the formalities to join the India-led Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuel Alliance. Furthermore, cooperation on Unified Payment Interoperability will also move forward, following a technology agreement between the Central Bank of Namibia and the NPCI.
India's interest in Namibia's natural resources, particularly its reserves of lithium, cobalt, uranium, and diamonds, is evident as India ramps up its ambitions in electric vehicles and tech innovation. Securing access to these critical minerals has become a top priority for India. However, the focus remains on developing these resources in a way that benefits both nations, fostering sustainable growth and value creation within Namibia.
The economic dimension of the India-Africa relationship is significant, with bilateral trade reaching nearly US$103 billion over the past decade. India is Africa's third-largest trading partner, with trade mainly focused on mineral resources such as zinc and diamond processing. India's top export products in Africa are machinery and transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles, mineral fuels, oils, and wooden products. In contrast, Africa exports metallurgical goods, raw cotton, fruits, crude oil, precious stones, and ferroalloys to India. India aims to achieve an ambitious $200 billion trade target by 2030.
Modi's visit also highlighted India's commitment to sharing its expertise and technology with Africa. He congratulated Namibia for adopting India's UPI digital payment system. India is keen to engage with Namibia in agriculture and pharma, and will be exploring India's low-cost solutions like DPI, Janaushadhi, traditional medicine, and Ayurveda. Indian IT firms and startups are also partnering with African governments to develop smart city projects, fintech solutions, and digital infrastructure.
The Prime Minister's visit to Namibia, the first in nearly three decades, signifies a renewed commitment to a strategic partnership based on mutual respect, shared prosperity, and a vision for a collaborative future. This visit is a crucial step in strengthening India-Africa ties and promoting a model of cooperation that prioritizes building together over competition.
