India and Namibia have agreed to deepen trade and economic cooperation, with bilateral merchandise trade rising to USD 592.94 million in 2025-26, from USD 568.40 million in the previous financial year.
The agreement was reached during the Fourth Session of the India-Namibia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held in New Delhi on August 10 and 11. The session concluded with the signing of the 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. Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Yashvir Singh delivered the inaugural address.
Both sides stressed the need to move bilateral trade beyond a raw-material-based structure and promote greater value addition and local processing in Namibia. They also agreed to establish concrete mechanisms with defined timelines and responsibilities to implement the decisions taken during the meeting.
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 recorded growth, increasing 7.34 per cent to USD 380 million in 2024.
India’s engineering exports to Namibia registered a sharp 124.06 per cent increase, reaching USD 30.24 million, driven largely by exports of motor vehicles and components. Pharmaceutical and medical device exports stood at USD 36.50 million, making India the second-largest pharmaceutical source for Namibia, with a 16.4 per cent share.
Focus on investment, services and healthcare
As part of efforts to facilitate investment, Invest India and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board were designated as investment focal points under the JTC. Both sides will nominate officials to coordinate investment-related matters.
India and Namibia also agreed to establish a dedicated Services Working Group, which will meet no later than February 2027 and submit its work plan to the JTC.
Cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals is also set to expand. The first Joint Working Group under the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Health and Medicine is expected to be convened by December 2026. An agreement on cooperation in the Janaushadhi initiative with HLL Lifecare Limited is also at an advanced stage of finalisation.
Critical minerals and digital payments
Critical minerals emerged as another 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.
The cooperation is aimed at supporting Namibia’s priorities of greater domestic value addition and employment generation.
The two sides also reviewed digital payment cooperation following the rollout of an instant payment system based on India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Namibia. The system, unveiled as “WayaMe” in June 2026, is expected to strengthen digital financial connectivity. Proposals were also discussed for a FinTech Cooperation Framework between the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Namibia.
In the gems and jewellery sector, 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 will also support training in diamond cutting, polishing and jewellery design.
Cooperation in energy and infrastructure
India and Namibia identified several opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure and energy, including railways and rolling stock, solar and wind power, battery storage, transmission systems, green hydrogen, biofuels and desalination.
The two countries also finalised the Terms of Reference for an India-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The terms are scheduled to be signed on August 12, with negotiations expected to begin within a month of the signing and conclude within one year.
The JTC also discussed cooperation in agriculture and food security, MSMEs, textiles, tourism and sports.
The Joint Trade Committee serves as the principal bilateral institutional mechanism for reviewing and strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation between India and Namibia.
The Fifth Session of the JTC is scheduled to be held in Namibia in 2028, with the dates to be decided through diplomatic channels.
