By Hasekiel Johannes
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s State Visit to the People’s Republic of China represents one of the most significant economic diplomacy engagements undertaken by Namibia in recent years. Yet this visit is more than a diplomatic exercise; it is the continuation of a strategic partnership built on decades of friendship, solidarity and mutual cooperation.
The relationship between Namibia and China did not begin after Independence in 1990. It dates back to the liberation struggle, when China provided political and material support to SWAPO in Namibia’s quest for self-determination. Since Independence, cooperation has expanded across infrastructure development, mining, healthcare, education, agriculture, trade and human capacity development. Over the past three decades, China has become one of Namibia’s most important development and investment partners, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth and industrial development.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s visit therefore builds on this strong historical foundation while opening a new chapter focused on industrialisation, manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), agriculture, mining, clean energy and technology-driven economic transformation. The engagements with leading Chinese manufacturers, technology firms, agricultural enterprises and research institutions signal Namibia’s intention to deepen cooperation with one of the world’s foremost manufacturing and innovation economies.
This is a timely and commendable intervention. Namibia continues to face one of the highest unemployment rates in the region, particularly among young people. According to the 2023 Namibia Labour Force Survey, the broad unemployment rate stands at approximately 36.9%, while youth unemployment remains above 44% among people aged 15–34. These figures underscore the urgent need for large-scale investments capable of creating sustainable employment opportunities and accelerating economic diversification.
However, the discussion should not simply be about bringing factories to Namibia. It must be about what kind of manufacturing Namibia wants to build.
Namibia’s strategic location on the Atlantic Ocean, its modern logistics infrastructure through the Ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, and its access to regional and continental markets through SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) make the country an attractive gateway for investment into Southern Africa and the broader African market. Yet Namibia should avoid positioning itself merely as a destination for low-cost assembly operations. Instead, the country should deliberately pursue high-value manufacturing.
High-value manufacturing focuses on knowledge-intensive industries that generate higher wages, stronger skills development and greater economic resilience. These include pharmaceuticals, biotechnology products, medical devices, renewable energy technologies, battery and mineral-processing technologies, green hydrogen equipment, precision engineering, agricultural technologies, digital hardware and AI-enabled manufacturing systems. Such industries create deeper linkages with research, innovation and local enterprise development than traditional low-skill assembly operations.
This is where Namibia’s universities become indispensable.
Institutions such as Welwitchia University, International University Management (IUM), the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology should not simply produce graduates to fill vacancies in foreign-owned factories. They should become the research and innovation engines that support industrial transformation. Universities must work alongside investors to develop new technologies, improve manufacturing processes, commercialise research, protect intellectual property and create locally owned enterprises that can integrate into regional and global value chains.
Every major manufacturing investment entering Namibia should therefore include structured partnerships with local universities. These partnerships should establish joint research centres, innovation laboratories, postgraduate scholarship programmes, industrial chairs, technology transfer initiatives and advanced skills development programmes. Such arrangements would ensure that Namibians are not only operating imported technologies but are actively designing, improving and eventually exporting innovations developed within Namibia.
The focus on AI during the President’s visit is particularly important. Engagements with companies such as Huawei demonstrate that the future of industrialisation will be increasingly digital. AI, automation, robotics and data-driven production systems are rapidly transforming manufacturing worldwide. Namibia must ensure that its universities are training engineers, data scientists, researchers and innovators who can participate in this transformation rather than merely consume imported technologies.
Mining remains another critical pillar of the Namibia–China partnership. Chinese investment has already played a significant role in Namibia’s mining sector, including the acquisition of the Tsumeb Smelter by Sinomine Resource Group and continued investments in critical minerals such as lithium, copper and rare earth elements. These investments position Namibia as an important supplier of minerals required for the global green energy transition. Yet the real opportunity lies in moving beyond extraction toward local mineral beneficiation, battery materials processing and advanced manufacturing linked to these resources.
Agriculture also stands to benefit significantly from enhanced cooperation. Discussions on agricultural modernisation and agro-processing create opportunities to improve food security, increase productivity, expand value addition and strengthen export competitiveness. Research collaboration between Chinese institutions and Namibian universities could help develop climate-smart farming technologies, drought-resilient crops and agro-processing innovations suited to Namibia’s conditions.
Equally important is the health sector. Chinese investment could support collaborative research into pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology, diagnostics and medical devices. Through partnerships with universities, research institutions and healthcare providers, Namibia can strengthen its capacity in clinical research, laboratory sciences and pharmaceutical innovation while complying with national regulatory requirements governing clinical trials. Such investments would improve healthcare outcomes, reduce dependence on imported medical products and strengthen preparedness for future pandemics and other public health emergencies.
All these efforts should be aligned with the priorities of Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), particularly industrialisation, digital transformation, healthcare, agriculture, renewable energy, climate resilience, food security and economic diversification. Foreign investment should therefore be assessed not only by the amount of capital committed or the number of jobs created, but also by the extent to which it builds local knowledge, supports research, develops skills and strengthens national competitiveness.
Technology transfer must become a measurable outcome of every major investment agreement. Success should be reflected in the number of Namibian researchers trained, patents registered, technologies commercialised, start-ups established, postgraduate students supported and research partnerships created. Without deliberate investment in knowledge creation, Namibia risks remaining dependent on external expertise even as new industries emerge.
China’s rise as a global manufacturing and innovation powerhouse was built on sustained investment in education, research, industrial policy and human capital. Namibia now has an opportunity to leverage this partnership to build its own knowledge economy. The true value of the President’s visit will not be measured only by the factories established, mines expanded or agreements signed. It will be measured by whether Namibia uses these investments to develop its own scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s visit has opened an important new chapter in Namibia–China relations. The challenge before us is to ensure that these investments create more than employment. They must create knowledge, strengthen institutions, empower researchers, develop entrepreneurs and position Namibia as an innovation-driven economy.
If Namibia succeeds in linking Chinese investment with university-led research, technology transfer, skills development and high-value manufacturing, the legacy of this historic visit will not simply be new factories or infrastructure projects. It will be a generation of Namibians equipped to innovate, manufacture, commercialise research and compete successfully in the global economy.
Mr. Hasekiel Johannes serves as the Innovation and Resource Mobilisation Coordinator at Welwitchia University. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Welwitchia University.
