Niël Terblanché
Namibian President Hage Geingob is poised to elevate Namibia’s role in the global transition to cleaner energy sources.
His participation in the European Union’s Inaugural Global Gateway Forum (GGF) and the EU-Namibia Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials Business Forum in Brussels, Belgium, stresses Namibia’s commitment to green hydrogen’s potential as an economic driver and climate change solution.
Scheduled for October 25-26, 2023, the GGF will feature President Geingob delivering a keynote speech during the Leaders’ Session on “Green Energy Transition and Green Hydrogen.” This session will emphasize the importance of cleaner energy sources and the role of green hydrogen.
The session will stress the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy sources and the role of green hydrogen in achieving this goal.
The Namibian President will also engage in bilateral talks with the President of the European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with the shared objective of strengthening the Namibia-EU Partnership.
Their discussions will centre around creating a solid foundation for Namibia’s green industrialization agenda.
The Forum will focus on the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which promotes global investment in infrastructure, with priority themes including digital, energy, climate, transport, health, education, and research. It will also provide an opportunity to showcase flagship projects, including those in Namibia, and explore ways to address the global investment gap.
Additionally, as part of the GGF, President Geingob will participate in the EU-Namibia Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials Business Forum on October 24-25, 2023.
In this forum, he will deliver keynote remarks, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development and stewardship of Namibia’s natural resources while strengthening economic ties between Namibia and the EU.
Namibia and the EU share a 33-year partnership, with the EU accounting for a significant percentage of Namibia’s exports and imports. This Business Forum builds upon the partnership signed at COP27 last year.
It aims to facilitate dialogue, collaboration, and partnerships between the EU and Namibia in the green hydrogen and critical raw materials value chains.
The theme of the Business Forum is “Mobilizing Quality Investment and Value Addition for Green Growth in the EU-Namibia Partnership,” with a focus on green hydrogen and sustainable critical raw materials value chains. The agenda also includes discussions on clean hydrogen derivatives and strategies for mitigating financial risks in green hydrogen projects.
During his visit, President Geingob will also meet with the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, and the Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Thomas Ostros.
President Geingob’s participation in these forums reflects Namibia’s commitment to a sustainable and green future, leveraging international partnerships to achieve its goals
Namibia’s proactive stance on green hydrogen and renewable energy is evidence of the country’s determination to be a key player in the global shift toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy landscape.
The President is expected to return to Namibia on October 27, 2023.
