India and Namibia have agreed to deepen trade and economic cooperation, with bilateral merchandise trade rising to USD 592.94 million in 2025-26, up from USD 568.40 million in the previous financial year.
What was agreed during the Joint Trade Committee session?
The agreement was reached during the Fourth Session of the India-Namibia Joint Trade Committee held in New Delhi on August 10 and 11, concluding with the signing of Agreed Minutes by the two co-chairs. The Indian delegation was led by Amit Kumar, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, while the Namibian delegation was headed by Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, Executive Director in Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Trade. Both sides stressed the need to move bilateral trade beyond a raw-material-based structure toward greater value addition and local processing in Namibia, agreeing to establish concrete mechanisms with defined timelines and responsibilities.
How did India’s exports and imports perform?
India’s exports to Namibia stood at USD 349.09 million in 2025-26, while imports were valued at USD 243.85 million. Trade in services also grew, rising 7.34 percent to USD 380 million in 2024. India’s engineering exports to Namibia surged 124.06 percent to USD 30.24 million, driven largely by motor vehicles and components, while pharmaceutical and medical device exports reached USD 36.50 million, making India the second-largest pharmaceutical source for Namibia with a 16.4 percent market share.
What steps were taken to boost investment and services cooperation?
Invest India and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board were designated as investment focal points under the JTC, with both sides to nominate officials to coordinate investment matters. A dedicated Services Working Group will be established, meeting no later than February 2027 to submit its work plan to the JTC.
What progress is expected in critical minerals and healthcare?
Critical minerals emerged as a key area of cooperation, with both countries identifying opportunities across exploration, offtake, processing and downstream beneficiation of lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements, aimed at supporting Namibia’s push for greater domestic value addition and employment generation. In healthcare, the first Joint Working Group under the bilateral MoU on Health and Medicine cooperation is expected to convene by December 2026, alongside an advancing agreement on the Janaushadhi initiative with HLL Lifecare Limited.
What digital payments and trade agreement developments were discussed?
The two sides reviewed digital payment cooperation following the rollout of “WayaMe,” an instant payment system based on India’s UPI, launched in Namibia in June 2026, alongside proposals for a FinTech Cooperation Framework between the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Namibia. India and Namibia also finalised the Terms of Reference for an India-Southern African Customs Union Preferential Trade Agreement, scheduled for signing on August 12, with negotiations expected to begin within a month and conclude within a year.
What other sectors featured in the discussions?
The JTC also covered cooperation in infrastructure and energy, including railways and rolling stock, solar and wind power, battery storage, transmission systems, green hydrogen, biofuels and desalination, alongside gems and jewellery, agriculture and food security, MSMEs, textiles, tourism and sports. Namibia was invited to participate in India’s Special Notified Zones in Surat and Mumbai and the India Rough Gemstones Sourcing Show, with India also offering training support in diamond cutting, polishing and jewellery design.
What comes next in the India-Namibia trade relationship?
The Joint Trade Committee serves as the principal bilateral mechanism for reviewing trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries, with the Fifth Session scheduled to be held in Namibia in 2028.
