Trade with China reaches record N$40.6bn

Bilateral trade between Namibia and China has surged by 158% over the past six years, reaching a record N$40.64 billion in 2025, as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah wrapped up her state visit to Beijing with a renewed push for Chinese investment in Namibia's priority sectors.

Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday at the conclusion of her visit, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the trip sought to reinforce political ties while unlocking new opportunities in trade, industrialisation, infrastructure development, technology and skills transfer.

Trade between the two countries has grown from N$15.75 billion in 2020 to N$40.64 billion in 2025. During the first four months of 2026 alone, bilateral trade reached N$14.79 billion.

"The objectives of the state visit are centred around strengthening political ties, deepening economic cooperation and identifying new areas of partnership that support Namibia's development priorities," she said.

"We are particularly interested in increasing trade and investment, attracting value-addition industries, expanding cooperation in agriculture, energy, technology, infrastructure and skills development, and strengthening educational and cultural exchanges."

The visit included engagements with provincial leaders and business executives in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu before culminating in Beijing with high-level bilateral meetings and the signing of several memoranda of understanding.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said tours of Chinese industrial, technology and agricultural institutions highlighted the country's remarkable technological progress.

"I was impressed by the creativity and advancement in the use of technology," she said.

She described Namibia's relationship with China as one rooted in decades of solidarity, recalling Beijing's support during Namibia's liberation struggle. Diplomatic relations established in 1990 have since evolved into a Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership.

"For Namibia, our relationship with China is a strategic partnership that offers opportunities in infrastructure development, industrialisation, trade, agriculture, mining, green energy and people-to-people exchanges," she said.

The president also credited China with contributing significantly to Namibia's development through investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and human capital.

"Many Namibians have studied in China and returned home with valuable skills and knowledge that contribute to our national development," she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said China's economic transformation offers valuable lessons in long-term planning, policy consistency and investment in infrastructure and human capital.

"Namibia's circumstances are unique and our developmental path must be our own, but there is much we can learn from China's experience in industrialisation, agricultural productivity, youth empowerment and skills development," she said.

She welcomed China's Zero Tariff Policy for African exports, describing it as an opportunity to expand Namibia's access to one of the world's largest consumer markets. However, she cautioned that tariff-free access alone would not be enough.

"Market access alone is not enough. Namibia needs to strengthen production capacity and enhance value addition to take advantage of such opportunities," she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also pointed to Namibia's strategic location, deep-water ports and transport corridors as assets that position the country to benefit from China's Belt and Road Initiative and growing regional connectivity.

She also urged journalists from both countries to play a greater role in shaping the narrative of the bilateral relationship.

"I urge the Namibian and Chinese media to continue telling our own stories from our own perspective," she said.