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6 clusters · 13 sources · 42 days · First seen 2 months ago · Last updated 23 days ago

Namibia expands foreign investment with China, Botswana, SA

Overview

Building on the July 2026 agreements signed after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s meeting with President Xi Jinping, Namibia has broadened its partnership network. A state visit to China resulted in eight new bilateral accords covering education, agriculture, trade, health and investment, including scholarships for Namibian students, zero-tariff treatment for key exports such as table grapes, and cooperation on technical training and pharmaceutical production.

Namibia has become a focal point in strategic competition between China and the European Union over critical minerals like uranium, lithium, and rare earths. China maintains a significant economic presence, with uranium accounting for 85% of Namibia’s exports to the country in 2024. Namibia is leveraging this to negotiate for local processing and technology transfer. Meanwhile, the EU is utilizing its Global Gateway strategy, mobilizing over $1.5 billion in loans and grants, with aims to leverage more than $23 billion in private investment over the medium term.

Domestically, President Nandi-Ndaitwah is promoting regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging entrepreneurs to connect local businesses to international markets. To further drive development and employment, the government has announced it is prepared to issue five-year visas to serious investors. The President has also called for increased skill transfers and the inclusion of local product sections in retail spaces to support domestic industries.

These steps complement Namibia’s earlier outreach to Botswana and its strategic cooperation with South Africa, while the petroleum sector continues to expand youth employment through PETROFUND’s training programmes.

Entities

Namibia · China · Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah · Zhao Weiping · Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah

Timeline

23 days ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
President Nandi-Ndaitwah promotes AfCFTA and China ties
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is urging Namibian businesses to utilize the AfCFTA for continental expansion and is seeking to strengthen economic ties and investment with China.
about 1 month ago

[BUSINESS] 5 sources
Namibia attracts competition from China and EU over critical minerals
Namibia is navigating a strategic competition between China and the EU for access to critical minerals like uranium and lithium, leveraging new cooperation agreements to boost local industrial capacity.
about 2 months ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Namibia’s Nandi‑Ndaitwah expands trade with China, South Africa
Namibia’s President Nandi‑Ndaitwah secured trade, investment and education deals with China and deepened resource and economic cooperation with South Africa.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
China expands grants to Namibia and investment outreach to Botswana
China pledged grants and trade access to Namibia after its president’s Beijing visit, while Botswana sought Chinese investment for renewable‑energy manufacturing, underscoring expanding China‑Africa ties.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Namibia seeks Botswana investment and expands youth oil‑gas employment
Namibia courted Botswana investors across several sectors while PETROFUND secured over 60 youth placements in the growing oil‑gas industry.
2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
Namibia secures new China investment deals in energy and minerals
Namibia and China signed eight agreements in Beijing to boost cooperation in energy, agriculture, infrastructure and critical minerals, aiming to attract investment and create jobs.

Sources

botswanayouth.com · diarioeconomico.co.mz · ghanamma.com · helpdeskgeek.com · namibian.com.na · nbcnews.na · neweralive.na · observer.com.na · observer24.com.na · omutumwa.com · sanews.gov.za · thebrief.com.na · ww2.namibian.com.na

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history