Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived on his much-awaited visit to Namibia, which is considered a historic opportunity for bilateral relations between India and Namibia.
Windhoek: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Namibia on Wednesday in the final leg of his much-anticipated Africa tour, where he was received with a grand and traditional welcome. This is the first official visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Namibia and is seen as a milestone in giving a new dimension to the India-Africa strategic partnership.
PM Modi's arrival in Namibia is historic not only from a diplomatic point of view, but also from cultural and economic perspectives. During the welcome ceremony, the Prime Minister enlivened the atmosphere by playing drums with local artists, which people on social media termed as a "cultural confluence" between India and Africa.
Political-Strategic Agenda: Deepening Bilateral Relations
Immediately after arriving in Windhoek, Prime Minister Modi and Namibian President Dr. Nangolo Mbumba held a one-to-one meeting. This was followed by ministerial delegation-level talks, in which both countries discussed comprehensive strategic cooperation. The main topics of these discussions were:
- Trade and Investment
- Defense Cooperation
- Energy and Mineral Resources
- Digital Payments and Cyber Technology
- Strengthening the Collective Voice in the Global South
Six Major Agreements: A New Beginning for Digital and Mineral Cooperation
During this time, six significant agreements (MoUs) were signed between India and Namibia. The most prominent of these was the agreement to launch the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Namibia. This agreement took place between India's NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) and the Central Bank of Namibia, which will now enable Namibian citizens to take advantage of fast, secure, and affordable digital transactions.
In addition, an agreement has been reached between India and Namibia regarding the trade of uranium, cobalt, lanthanides, and diamonds under mineral cooperation. Especially with the start of the direct import process of diamonds, India will be able to get high-quality gems at a cheaper rate and quickly, while also reducing the role of middlemen.
PM Modi's Historic Address in Parliament
Prime Minister Modi also addressed the Namibian Parliament – and became the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. In this speech, he described the role of the African continent as decisive in global development, environmental balance, and digital empowerment. He said that India and Africa are both b pillars of the Global South, and now it is time for us to work together to balance the global power structure.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi also paid tribute to Dr. Sam Nujoma, the first President of Namibia. Sam Nujoma played a decisive role in freeing Namibia from South African occupation. In his tribute message, PM Modi said that Dr. Nujoma was not only the nation builder of Namibia, but he is still a source of inspiration for India-Africa friendship.
