Namibia is a country in Southern Africa, distinguished by the Namib desert along its Atlantic ocean coast. More than twice the size of Germany, it is sparsely populated with a population of just 2.6 million and known for its commitment to biodiversity and wildlife conservation.
Namibia is a stable democracy and an upper middle-income country since 2009. However, its upper middle income country status masks high socio-economic inequality and environmental challenges. Namibia is mainly dependent on commodity exports (diamonds, uranium) and tourism. Its economy has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and price shocks from the war in Ukraine. In the medium term, efforts to diversify the economy will include green energy and mining.
The EU supports Namibia''s green recovery, in line with Namibia''s "Vision 2030", the "Harambee Prosperity Plan II" and the EU''s Global Gateway Strategy. Our action builds on Namibia''s strategic location and its commitment to the twin green and digital transition. Namibia''s renewable energy and green hydrogen ambitions could become an economic game-changer in the medium term, spurring green industrialisation and the development of a logistics hub for Southern Africa through the port of Walvis Bay.
A significant development in EU-Namibia relations was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains and renewable hydrogen at COP 27 in Egypt in November 2022.
The EU adopted a Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for the period 2021-27 under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe). Under that framework, the EU allocated €37 million in grant funding towards the partnership with Namibia for 2021-24. Namibia also benefits from a number of multi-country EU programmes.
Team Europe supports Namibia''s just green transition as per the political priorities of the EU-Namibia strategic partnership. To boost investment and employment opportunities in three priority sectors for Namibia: renewable energy; green hydrogen and raw materials; water and climate resilience. The Team Europe Initiative focuses on:
The national TEI on inclusive green growth will be reinforced by investments in a strategical regional transport corridor, linking Maputo, Gaborone and Walvis Bay (one of theEU-Africa strategic corridors). Team Europe together with the port of Antwerp-Bruges are providing expertise to Namport towards a master plan study and digitalisation strategy for the port of Walvis Bay. Namport, in cooperation with the port of Rotterdam and the Dutch Government has commissioned a feasibility study for the expansion of the port of Lüderitz.
Namibia and the European Union (EU) showcased their partnership in the first-ever edition of the EU-Namibia Business Forum, held on 24-25 October 2023 in Brussels. This year''s edition focused on Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials, elements which are key to ensuring a Green Transition.
The Forum''s first day was dedicated to Green Hydrogen and the possibilities of partnership between European and Namibian companies and the regulatory frameworks operating in both regions. Financial sustainability and investment challenges were discussed together with the need to increase the capacities and skill sets of the Namibian workforce.
Officially opening the Forum, Namibian President, H.E. Dr. Hage Geingob reiterated the government''s commitment to collaborating with the European Union to achieve the carbon-neutrality expected by 2050 in the region. President Geingob also highlighted that while Namibia''s economy is intricately linked to the extraction and processing of minerals for export, which contributes significantly to the country''s GDP and foreign exchange earnings, it is equally important to diversify the economy and build local capacity.
"We are no longer going to export raw minerals. Together with our partners from Europe, we are dedicated to improving the sustainability of our extractive industry and developing local processing, refining, recovery, and recycling capacity in Namibia. This approach has the potential to underpin sustainable, clean, and inclusive economic growth, while also fostering domestic resource mobilisation, economic diversification, and deeper linkages to the broader economy", said President Geingob.
Uaandja further indicated that Namibia is ready to form partnerships that will enable the country to build capacity in key areas such as skills for economic diversification, technical capabilities for research and development as well as partners to facilitate the blended financing required to develop infrastructure such as rail, ports and the electricity grid needed to connect key projects in the energy sector.
Mr. Koen Doens, Director General of International Partnerships (European Commission), highlighted the "momentum" for this partnership, and the potential of Namibia for producing clean energy, and the availability of raw materials. "The country has shown it has the vision and the capacity" to become one of the top players in the previously mentioned industries. "It has the potential for Namibia to boost the economy, to boost jobs, and to boost the prosperity of its people".
Mr. Doens also pointed out the EU''s own path to carbon neutrality, to be reached by 2050. "This requires strategic partners, and Namibia is really in pole position. There is a real meeting of interests, where Europe is looking for partners which export energy in the shape of Green Hydrogen ammonia and also the critical raw materials which are needed for green technology production.
On his part, Green Hydrogen Commissioner, James Mnyupe provided an overview of Namibia''s Government''s Green Hydrogen Strategy, aiming to become the world leader in low-carbon green energy production.
The second day focused on Critical Raw Materials, highlighting Namibia''s regulatory frameworks, the exporting possibilities, research and security, to name a few. The day''s proceedings were opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah who called on the Namibian government and the EU to adopt a people development centred approach, with a focus on preserving the planet in the implementation of the cooperation agreement.
Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah said: "Our partnership seeks to promote a balanced beneficial outcome between the economies of Namibia and the EU as well as our peoples. We therefore see a clear window of opportunity to utilize our natural resources to transform our economies for the benefit of present and future generations".
Further, the forum was enriched by the call of the Executive Director in the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, Sikongo Haihambo, who reiterated and echoed the words of Ambassador Dr. Mekondjo Girnus-Kaapnda that "the approach to mining is in need for a change from the traditional 3 Es: "Explore, exploit, export" to value addition". Joint ventures and partnerships, transport, logistic hubs had their own panels of discussion, together with the demanded capacity building for the workers.
More than 200 business community representatives from Namibia and EU countries, members of the Namibian Government, EU institutions and Member States representatives, financing institutions and academic partners were present on site and more than 100 were registered on-line. Over 2100 people viewed the forum online online on the Facebook pages of the European Union Delegation (EUD) to Namibia and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB).
TheMemorandum of Understandingand the partnership are grounded on common interests and will promote integration of the raw materials and renewable hydrogen value chains between the EU and Namibia.
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