Namibia is set to host Finland President Sauli Niinistö, who will lead a business delegation to the country as part of a state visit from April 27 to 28, 2023.
His visit follows a November visit by Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Ville Skinnari, who also led a business delegation that was scouting for trade and investment opportunities in Namibia’s energy sector, with a particular focus on green hydrogen.
According to a statement released by the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland, Niinistö will hold a meeting with President Hage Geingob to discuss the global political situation, global challenges, and the bilateral relations between Finland and Namibia.
On Friday, April 28, the second day of the state visit to Namibia, President Niinistö will meet Prime Minister of Namibia Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi and participate in a business seminar to be held in Windhoek.
The conference will be held under the themes: Accelerating implementation of the 4th Industrial Revolution by leveraging partnerships and innovation to promote the Green Transition for job creation and eradication of poverty and Advancing Policy Reforms to enhance integrated solutions for sustainable and inclusive growth in Namibia.
Finland is among Namibia’s top 20 trading partners. Overall exports to the Finnish market totaled N$1.8 billion last year, while Namibia’s imports increased to N$1.1 billion.
The latest interest in investment opportunities by the Nordic country comes as the Namibian government has introduced ambitious plans to diversify the domestic economy, attract more foreign investment, and create more jobs.
The country’s plan is based on green transition by increasing the production of green energy, multiplying the national production of electricity with renewables, and becoming a major global producer of green hydrogen. Namibia is targeting to create a green fuels industry with a production capacity of 10-12 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of hydrogen equivalent (H2) by 2050.
Under the net-zero scenario, global demand for hydrogen and its derivatives is expected to soar from an estimated 140 Mtpa of hydrogen equivalent in 2030 to 660 Mtpa in 2050.”
