India, Namibia agree to boost trade ties

New Delhi: India and Namibia have agreed to strengthen bilateral trade beyond a raw-material-based composition towards value addition, set up investment focal points and new working groups on pharmaceuticals and services at a two-day meeting between official delegations of the two countries, which concluded here on Tuesday. The two countries have also identified structured cooperation across exploration, offtake, processing and downstream beneficiation of critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements, in line with Namibia’s priorities of value addition and local employment creation.

The two sides have designated Invest India and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board as Joint Trade Committee (JTC) investment focal points, with a named official on each side, according to an official statement issued after the meeting. Closer cooperation has been identified in railways and rolling stock, solar and wind power, battery storage, transmission, green hydrogen, biofuels, and desalination.

A dedicated Services Working Group will also be constituted, which will meet no later than February 2027 and submit its work plan to the JTC.