Namibia joins EU green energy business forum in Brussels

More than 40 local businesses as well as several non-profit organisations will participate in the European Union&#039;s (EU) Namibia Business Forum in Brussels, Belgium, this week.The forum is focused on green hydrogen and raw materials, and the event, scheduled for 24 and 25 October, is arranged to coincide with the EU&#039;s Global Gateway Forum. According to the Chargé d&#039;affaires of the European Union Delegation to Namibia, Gosia Lachut, the business forum is organised in collaboration with the Namibian Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), in cooperation with various ministries, business associations, EU member states, and the private sector.The Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology are also joining the event. "Trade and investment have become increasingly important for economic growth and job creation," said Lachut. While South Africa remains Namibia&#039;s largest trading partner, accounting for 39% of all imports, the EU is now the second largest, with 13.6% of imports from Europe and 21.6% of exports flowing from Namibia to the EU. South Africa receives 17.3% of Namibia&#039;s exports, according to Lachut.She also pointed out that Namibia exports more to Europe than it imports from there. A trade forum between Namibia and the EU was strengthened last year by €6 million (almost N$120 million) for an economic agreement by the EU, and it was agreed that the business forum would encourage business-to-business interaction.Green focus The theme for next week&#039;s forum is &#039;Mobilising Quality Investment and Value Addition for Green Growth in the EU-Namibia Partnership&#039;, with an emphasis on green hydrogen and sustainable critical raw material value chains. Economic growth and job creation through an inclusive green energy transition are the goal, said Lachut. "This includes harnessing the country&#039;s solar and wind power to produce green hydrogen and positioning Namibia as a green energy hub. Prominent in this regard is Namibia&#039;s US$10 billion green hydrogen project, which is expected to generate approximately two million tonnes of green ammonia annually for regional and global markets, including Europe.""The EU and member states support Namibia in this ambitious national programme that will require significant financial, technical and human resources, as well as innovative technology and infrastructure. This investment can be a game changer for Namibia&#039;s economy and a great success story in our cooperation," she said.Representing Namibia President Hage Geingob will open the business forum before representing the country at the event with the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as the guest of honour. Geingob and Von der Leyen agreed last year to establish a strategic partnership between Namibia and the EU regarding green hydrogen and critical minerals. From this, the initiative of a Namibia-Europe team for green growth emerged, along with an operational roadmap for 2023-2024.

Namibia joins EU green energy business forum in Brussels

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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Namibia joins EU green energy business forum in Brussels

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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