Namibia and South Africa seek closer economic cooperation

Namibia and South Africa have entered a new chapter in regard to their bilateral relations, seeking close cooperation in cross-border value chain opportunities and the energy sector like oil, gas and green hydrogen.

This was discussed and confirmed at the first ever bilateral business forum between the two neighbouring countries on 13 October 2023 in Windhoek.

Two declarations of intent were signed at the closing ceremony in the presence of both President Hage Geingob and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The second agreement provides for a financing facility to finance industrial and productive development projects and to support the development of cross-border value chains between Namibia and South Africa.

“Both the financing facility and the business council will be up and running by the end of March next year,” said South Africa's Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel.

The bilateral business council “will serve as a public-private sector platform, including a cooperation framework and a social pact to increase bilateral trade and accelerate the implementation of strategic industrial and infrastructure projects in different economic sectors”, explained Namibia's Minister of Trade and Industry, Lucia Iipumbu.

Regional value chains such as vehicle parts, leather processing and green hydrogen as well as the processing of critical minerals for industrialisation will be explored.

“Africa should not continue to export raw materials and then import processed products of those raw materials,” Ramaphosa said.

Namibia and South Africa will further conclude an additional agreement soon to cover new areas of cooperation like green hydrogen, oil and gas. “The recent discovery of oil and gas off Namibia’s coast opens up new perspectives for cooperation,” said President Geingob.

The state-owned power utilities NamPower of Namibia and Eskom of South Africa were tasked to create modalities regarding electricity supply.

Parallel to the business forum, a meeting of the bi-national commission was held in the morning at State House with several Cabinet ministers of both countries and top government officials, chaired by both presidents.

Namibia and South Africa have 131 bilateral agreements of which 75 have been fully implemented.

Brigitte Weidlich