Niël Terblanché
Namibia is keen to explore extended cooperation with the Russian Federation to finally lay the cornerstone for tangible industrialization.
Russian Prime Minister Yury Trutnev, who also chairs the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, recently held talks with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
During these discussions, both leaders reiterated that Russia will play a crucial role in Namibia’s industrialization agenda and various areas of trade, including agriculture, mining, and health.
Addressing the gathering, Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed Namibia’s eagerness to enhance cooperation with the Russian Federation across multiple domains. She stressed the importance of industrialization as a cornerstone of Namibia’s development agenda.
Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged that trade between the two nations experienced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But added that she is optimistic about revitalizing economic ties and trade activities.
Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed hope that the discussions during the meeting would delve into the specifics of implementing the agreements reached at previous Africa-Russia summits.
Nandi-Ndaitwah encouraged Russia to resolve its conflict with Ukraine peacefully. She stressed that peace and security are essential prerequisites for development.
In his remarks, Russian Prime Minister Trutnev congratulated Nandi-Ndaitwah on her election as the Swapo Party Vice President, acknowledging the party’s significant representation in Namibia and its international standing.
He said that Russia and Namibia share views on various global issues and added that discussions with Russian companies interested in investing in Namibia are in an advanced stage.
The talks between the two leaders strengthened bilateral ties, fostering further cooperation that would ultimately benefit the people of both nations.
