India and Namibia have agreed to strengthen trade and investment ties, with bilateral merchandise trade reaching $592.94 million in 2025-26, up from $568.40 million a year earlier, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
The agreement was reached during the fourth session of the India-Namibia Joint Trade Committee, held in New Delhi on Aug. 10-11 and concluded with the signing of agreed minutes by the two sides.
India’s delegation was led by Amit Kumar, joint secretary at the Department of Commerce, while Namibia’s delegation was headed by Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, executive director at the Ministry of International Relations and Trade.
The two countries agreed to shift bilateral trade beyond a raw-material-based model by promoting greater value addition and local processing in Namibia. They will also establish mechanisms with clear timelines and responsibilities to advance the initiative.
India’s exports to Namibia stood at $349.09 million in 2025-26, compared with imports of $243.85 million. Trade in services rose 7.34% to $380 million in 2024.
Engineering exports from India surged 124.06% to $30.24 million, driven mainly by motor vehicles and components. Pharmaceutical and medical device exports reached $36.50 million, making India Namibia’s second-largest pharmaceutical supplier with a 16.4% market share.
Investment cooperation was another key focus, with Invest India and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board designated as focal points for coordinating investment-related issues.
A dedicated Services Working Group will be established, with its first meeting expected by February 2027. The group will prepare a work plan for consideration by the Joint Trade Committee.
Critical minerals emerged as a priority area, with the two sides identifying opportunities spanning exploration, offtake, processing and downstream beneficiation of lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements.
The cooperation is intended to support Namibia’s drive to increase domestic processing, generate employment and develop higher-value industries.
Healthcare cooperation is expected to advance with the first meeting of a Joint Working Group under the bilateral memorandum of understanding on health and medicine, scheduled for December 2026.
Discussions covered progress on an agreement involving India’s Janaushadhi initiative and HLL Lifecare Ltd., aimed at expanding access to affordable medicines.
Digital payments featured in the talks following the June launch in Namibia of WayaMe, an instant payment platform based on India’s Unified Payments Interface.
The two sides are considering a FinTech Cooperation Framework between the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Namibia to further develop cooperation in digital financial services.
India and Namibia have furthermore finalised the terms of reference for an India-Southern African Customs Union Preferential Trade Agreement. The terms are scheduled for signing on Aug. 12, with negotiations expected to begin within a month and conclude within a year.
Energy and infrastructure cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, covering railways and rolling stock, solar and wind power, battery storage, transmission systems, green hydrogen, biofuels and desalination.
The committee reviewed opportunities in agriculture and food security, textiles, gems and jewellery, small and medium-sized enterprises, tourism and sports.
Namibia was invited to participate in India’s Special Notified Zones in Surat and Mumbai as well as the India Rough Gemstones Sourcing Show. India offered training in diamond cutting, polishing and jewellery design.
The Joint Trade Committee serves as the principal mechanism for reviewing bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation.
The fifth session is scheduled to take place in Namibia in 2028.
