What New Agreements Did India and Namibia Sign?

Windhoek, July 9 (NationPress) In a significant move to enhance bilateral relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah oversaw the signing of two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) focused on health and entrepreneurship on Wednesday in Windhoek.

The MoUs include the establishment of an Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Namibia and a commitment to collaborate in Health and Medicine. This occasion marked PM Modi's first official visit to Namibia in 27 years.

Furthermore, it was revealed that Namibia is now a participant in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Global Biofuels Alliance.

Notably, Namibia has become the first nation to enter into a licensing agreement to integrate UPI technology, with plans to introduce a Digital Payments system later this year. This agreement was established through a partnership between NPCI and the Bank of Namibia in April 2024.

Upon his arrival at the State House in Windhoek, PM Modi received a warm welcome from President Nandi-Ndaitwah, who hosted a ceremonial reception. This visit was also the inaugural bilateral State Visit that President Nandi-Ndaitwah has hosted since assuming office in March.

Reflecting on the historical ties between the two nations, Prime Minister Modi extended congratulations to President Nandi-Ndaitwah on her election as Head of State of Namibia and expressed condolences for the loss of the country's Founding Father, Dr. Sam Nujoma, earlier this year.

The leaders discussed avenues to further enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in defense, maritime security, digital technology & UPI, agriculture, health and pharma, energy, and critical minerals.

They expressed satisfaction with the current trajectory of bilateral trade while noting that its full potential is yet to be realized. They urged for expedited discussions regarding the India-SACU PTA. PM Modi affirmed that India intends to amplify its development cooperation through capacity-building initiatives for Namibian experts and explore partnerships for manufacturing ventures in Namibia.

Prime Minister Modi also pledged India's support for Quick Impact development projects across sectors such as agriculture, Information Technology, cyber security, healthcare, education, women empowerment, and child welfare. He shared insights from India’s experiences with drones in agriculture, which could bring substantial benefits to Namibia.

Inviting Namibia to join the International Big Cat Alliance, PM Modi expressed gratitude for Namibia's assistance in the Cheetah conservation project in India.

The leaders addressed various global matters of mutual concern and PM Modi thanked Namibia for its solidarity with India following the Pahalgam terror attack. They agreed to enhance collaboration in the global battle against terrorism and work together to amplify the voice of the Global South.

Later, President Nandi-Ndaitwah organized a banquet in honor of the Prime Minister, who also extended an invitation for her to visit India at a convenient time.