China has committed a grant of about N$245 million (98 million yuan) towards Namibia’s Smart City pilot project as the government deepens its partnership with Huawei on artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, skills development and the development of a National Data Centre.
The funding was announced during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s visit to Huawei’s Headquarters Exhibition Centre in Shenzhen, China, where she met the company’s executives to discuss expanding cooperation under Namibia’s digital transformation agenda.
The discussions focused on Huawei’s collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology on smart city solutions and an AI-ready National Data Centre.
Addressing Huawei’s leadership, Nandi-Ndaitwah said digital transformation has become a key pillar of Namibia’s development strategy.
“Namibia recognises that digital transformation is no longer just a symbol of technology, but it’s an inspiration. It’s a strategic imperative for economic growth, industrialisation, good governance and sustainable development,” she said.
The President said the partnership with Huawei is expected to support digital inclusion, modernise public services and create employment opportunities by equipping Namibians with the skills required for an AI-driven economy.
She welcomed Huawei’s training initiatives, which have already reached more than 2,000 Namibians, saying skills development must remain at the centre of the country’s digital transition.
“As we are embracing technology, we need digital skills. We are really looking forward to work with you in creating those new jobs because, in a country like Namibia where unemployment is high, we don’t want technology to put people back in the street,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She said the government also wants to ensure that Namibians are trained to operate and maintain the digital systems after implementation to avoid long-term dependence on foreign expertise.
“We want to be very careful to avoid a situation whereby we spend money and it will not have an impact. But I believe our cooperation with Huawei will be impactful in what we want to achieve,” she said.
Huawei Senior Vice President of Enterprise Sales Leo Chen said the company is committed to supporting Namibia’s digital transformation through investments in digital infrastructure, cloud technologies and artificial intelligence.
“We believe that the future lies in Namibia having its very own national data centre. We look at what the country demands, whether it is AI, security or data, train people in that specific field and ensure they can apply those skills in the real world,” Chen said.
Huawei said its ICT Academy provides internationally recognised certifications and practical training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, and will continue supporting Namibia through technology transfer, skills development and digital solutions aligned with the country’s development priorities.
