Day 1

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.

In her presentation, Nangula Uaandja, Chairperson & CEO of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, highlighted Namibia’s investment and growth potential. She highlighted Namibia’s potential to power the world, citing the country's rich and abundant resources in uranium, oil & gas, biomass and all the elements needed to produce green hydrogen, as well as the critical raw materials that are essential to the green transition. "The world class wind and solar resources and the potential to produce green hydrogen at competitive rates, is what will enable Namibia to significantly contribute to the green energy transition", said Uaandja.

 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.

Day 2 

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.

A wide attendance from Namibia and Europe 

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).

 Nambia EU partnership cemented

The collaboration between the EU and Namibia in the green economy domain kicked-off in November 2022, when EC President Ursula von der Leyen and President Hage Geingob signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Renewable Hydrogen (GH2) and Sustainable Raw Materials Value Chains. With the signature of the EU-Namibia Roadmap 2023-2025 in the margins of the Global Gateway Forum, the Presidents paved the way for the next concrete actions. In their address at the Global Gateway Forum (25/26-10), the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining showcased the advancements in the EU Namibia Partnership on CRM and Green Hydrogen.

The benefits the nation has to offer are many. Namibia is officially ranked amongst the world’s top wind and solar energy resource countries, it has substantial deposits of rare earth and other minerals, vast ocean biomass resources as well as the fastest route from Southern Africa to Europe. It is therefore no wonder that so many companies are interested in investing in these sectors.  To underpin these efforts, the EU has developed the Team Europe Initiative to forge a coordinated approach with its Member States and EU Development Finance Institutions.  European Commission Director General for International Partnerships, Mr. Koen Doens, called it a win win for Europe and Namibia. 

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