President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is pushing for economic emancipation, industrialisation and technology transfer as Namibia seeks practical partnerships with Russia to create jobs, strengthen local industries and diversify its economy.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is in Moscow, Russia, attending the third Russia-Africa summit, which brings together heads of state and government, representatives of regional organisations, business leaders, experts and academics to discuss cooperation under the theme “For Peace, Security and Development”.
She attended the first plenary session at the Grand Kremlin Palace, where leaders engaged on ways to strengthen relations between Russia and African countries, advance mutually beneficial partnerships and address shared challenges.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is also participating in the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, held on the sidelines of the summit, where discussions cover trade, technology, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education and culture.
The engagements provide Namibia with an opportunity to explore practical cooperation that supports national development priorities while safeguarding the country’s economic interests.
Before departing for Moscow, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Africa’s focus must shift from political independence towards economic freedom, with countries building stronger economies through balanced international partnerships, industrial collaboration, technology transfer and domestic value addition.
Her engagements at the summit place these priorities within discussions on how Russia and African countries can expand economic and development cooperation.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also toured an exhibition showcasing Russian technological solutions across key economic sectors following the forum’s plenary session.
The exhibition presented an opportunity to view developments in technology and industry that could inform cooperation between participating countries.
According to the presidency, the focus is on partnerships capable of supporting employment creation, expanding productive industries and improving the country’s capacity to process resources and manufacture goods locally.
Economic diversification remains an important development priority as the country seeks to broaden economic activity beyond established sectors and strengthen its capacity to generate sustainable employment.
Cooperation in technology and industrial production can support these objectives by providing access to expertise, equipment and technical knowledge.
Such partnerships can also create opportunities for skills development and the growth of local businesses.
Nandi-Ndaitwah has emphasised that economic emancipation requires African countries to derive greater value from their resources and strengthen their domestic productive capacity.
Value addition is central to this approach because processing raw materials locally can create additional economic activity, support manufacturing and expand employment opportunities along production chains.
The summit’s discussions on energy, agriculture and trade also present areas for potential cooperation between Namibia and Russia.
In agriculture, partnerships could support the exchange of knowledge and technology, while cooperation in energy could provide opportunities for technical collaboration and industrial development.
Trade discussions can also help identify areas where businesses from both countries could expand commercial relations.
Healthcare and education are among the other sectors covered by the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, reflecting the wider scope of cooperation between the two sides.
The forum serves as a platform for government representatives, businesses and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, promote investment and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s participation comes as Namibia seeks international partnerships that can translate into tangible benefits for the domestic economy.
The presidency said the emphasis on practical cooperation means that the value of the engagements will ultimately depend on the investment opportunities identified, the terms of any agreements reached and the implementation of proposed projects. term economic development.
