India’s Modi makes historic visit to Namibia to strengthen trade, tech, and diplomatic ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Namibia for a landmark state visit on Wednesday to deepen bilateral relations, with a strong focus on trade, digital innovation, and strategic cooperation in critical minerals.

This marks the first visit by an Indian head of government to Namibia in nearly three decades and comes as both countries seek to bolster ties in sectors such as energy, diamond trade, fintech, and health. The visit is also being viewed as a reset in India-Namibia relations under Namibia’s new leadership, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

One of the agenda items is securing access to Namibia’s reserves of uranium, lithium, and other rare earth elements vital for India’s green energy transition and electric vehicle industry. Officials from both countries are expected to sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on mineral cooperation, capacity building in IT, healthcare partnerships, and education exchanges.

The two governments are also reportedly in talks to enable direct diamond trade between the two countries, reducing reliance on third-party markets and boosting value addition on both sides.

A standout announcement during the visit is the rollout of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Namibia, making it the first African country to adopt the digital public infrastructure. The move is part of India’s broader effort to export its homegrown digital systems to strategic partners in the Global South.

The UPI integration is expected to boost financial inclusion and ease cross-border payments between the two nations.

Modi’s itinerary includes laying a wreath at Heroes’ Acre, a symbolic gesture honouring Namibia’s liberation fighters. He is also expected to address a joint sitting of Parliament. The Indian Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and senior trade and energy officials.

India-Namibia trade currently stands at an estimated US$700 million annually, with India importing diamonds, uranium, and minerals, while exporting pharmaceuticals, rice, machinery, and refined petroleum products.

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