PM Modi Namibia visit

Seeking Ties, Not Competition with Africa: PM Modi in Namibia

PM Modi in Namibia

Windhoek, July 9, 2025 – On the concluding leg of his five-nation tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a landmark state visit to Namibia, reaffirming India’s commitment to a partnership model with Africa—centered on collaboration, equality and shared progress, not competition.

🤝 Strengthening India–Namibia Ties
During a formal meeting with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah at State House, Modi emphasized cooperation across multiple dimensions—defence, maritime security, digital technology, payments infrastructure (UPI), energy and critical minerals—with a clear message: India seeks partnership, not rivalry, with African nations

India and Namibia signed several MoUs—including cooperation in health, disaster‑resilient infrastructure and biofuels—while launching a Centre of Excellence in IT and an Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Windhoek . The two nations also agreed on UPI rollout later this year, making Namibia the first African country to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface.

Honouring Shared History & Future Goals
Modi was conferred the prestigious Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis—Namibia’s highest civilian honour—an act reflecting the deep historic and emotional bonds shaped during independence movements .

Parliament Address: A Vision of Equitable Progress
Addressing a joint session of Namibia’s Parliament to chants of “Modi, Modi”, he declared: “Africa must not be just a source of raw material—it must lead in value creation and sustainable growth.” He stressed that India values Africa’s global role and that their partnership should be anchored in dialogue, equity and mutual respect, not power or dominance .

Pointing back to his 2018 Africa engagement framework—based on respect, equality and mutual benefit—Modi reiterated, “We seek not to compete, but to cooperate… not to take, but to grow together.” He emphasized India’s commitment to supporting Namibia’s Vision 2030 and the Harambee Prosperity Plan, envisioning shared future gains

Concrete Progress: Trade, Tech, Minerals & Conservation
– Bilateral trade crossed US $800 million in FY 2023–24, with India’s exports making up over half The nds, uranium, lithium, cobalt, rare earths and oil aim to reduce reliance on intermediaries and enhance value chains Iitiative sent vaccines and healthcare assistance to Africa, and a Bhabhatron radiotherapy machine is being offered to Namibia .
– Under the cheetah translocation programme, eight cheetahs moved from Namibia to Kuno National Park in India in 2022; Modi noted their thriving population, citing plans for future phases .

A Forward-Looking Partnership
PM Modi summarized the philosophy of the visit: “Let us move forward as partners for peace, progress and prosperity… Our development partnership in Africa is worth over US $12 billion, but its real value is in shared growth and shared purpose.” He extended congratulations to Namibia on its first female president and closed with a hopeful vision: “The best days of India–Namibia relations are ahead of us” .

Conclusion
PM Modi’s Namibia visit redefines India–Africa diplomacy—anchored in collaboration, not competition. Through historical recognition, digital infrastructure, strategic resource partnerships and people-to-people cooperation, India aims to nurture a model of engagement grounded in mutual respect, value creation and equity.