President Hage Geingob is set to participate in the inaugural European Union Global Gateway Forum (GGF) and the EU-Namibia Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials Business Forum in Brussels, Belgium.
As part of the Inaugural Global Gateway Forum (GGF), President Geingob will take part in the first-of-its-kind EU-Namibia Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials Business Forum, during which the President will deliver the keynote address.
“In recognition of Namibia’s leadership in the transition to cleaner sources of energy, President Geingob has been invited to deliver the keynote statement during the Leaders’ Session on ‘Green Energy Transition and Green Hydrogen,’ the Presidency said.
“The Business Forum comes at the right time to promote sustainable development and stewardship of Namibia’s natural resources while enhancing economic ties between the EU and Namibia. Namibia and the EU are celebrating 33 years of partnership this year. Namibia has maintained a consistently positive trade relationship with the European Union (EU), which holds significant importance as a trading partner.”
President Geingob’s participation in the Global Gateway Forum (GGF) is at the invitation of the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen.
The Forum will focus on the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy and its role in promoting global investment in infrastructure, centered around its priority themes: digital, energy, and climate; transport; health and education; and research.
“It will be an opportunity to showcase Global Gateway flagship projects, including projects in Namibia. It will also discuss how the EU and Namibia, along with other countries, can scale up these projects to address the global investment gap. Furthermore, the Forum will provide an opportunity for Namibia to engage with other nations from all around the world where the EU is investing in its international partnerships,” said the Presidency.
The European Union, through the Global Gateway, which was launched in December 2021, offers partner countries around the world the opportunity to develop smart, clean, and secure digital, energy, and transport infrastructure and strengthen health and education systems.
While in Brussels, President Geingob will also hold meetings with the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, and the Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Thomas Ostros.
The EU accounts for 21.6% of Namibia’s exports and 13.6% of its imports.