Namibia has expressed its full support for India’s proposal to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in the country under the “Pharmacy of the World” initiative.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made the announcement during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Namibia, saying the initiative aligns with Namibia’s national objectives to boost local medicine production and reduce reliance on imports.
“In the health sector, Namibia welcomes India’s proposal under the ‘Pharmacy of the World’ initiative to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Namibia. This initiative aligns with our goal to enhance domestic health production capacity and improve regional health security. We are eager to finalise the outstanding memorandum of understanding in this regard,” she said on Wednesday.
The proposed hub is expected to improve access to affordable medicines, strengthen Namibia’s ability to respond to health emergencies, and support broader regional health resilience.
In addition, President Ndaitwah welcomed India’s plan to set up an India–Namibia Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, saying it would play a key role in skills development, health innovation and promoting entrepreneurship, particularly among youth and women.
She described India as one of Namibia’s largest trading partners, highlighting that trade and investment remain central to the bilateral relationship.
There is strong potential, she said, to expand cooperation in sectors such as green hydrogen, mining and value addition, oil and gas, infrastructure development, agriculture, food security and tourism.
“These actions align with Namibia’s national agenda to attract foreign direct investment, expand the country’s export basket, and accelerate economic growth in order to create employment and reduce poverty,” Ndaitwah said.
“We must work together to maximise these opportunities and fully unlock the potential of our trade and investment portfolios,” she added.
The President also noted that the growing partnership with India spans several key sectors including health, education, digital innovation and public administration.
