President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will co-chair the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Pretoria on Friday, where the two countries are expected to review bilateral cooperation, sign new agreements and issue directives aimed at strengthening economic ties and regional integration.
According to the Namibian Presidency, the summit will conclude a week of engagements between the two governments, beginning with a Senior Officials’ Session on 14 and 15 July, followed by a Ministerial Session on 16 July.
The ministerial meeting will be co-chaired by Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
The Bi-National Commission is the highest permanent mechanism for cooperation between Namibia and South Africa and oversees more than 150 bilateral agreements covering political, diplomatic, legal, economic, social, defence and security cooperation.
“The two countries remain committed to working together in the interest of their people, and the Fourth Session of the BNC offers an opportunity to further strengthen the bilateral relations and cooperation that exist between the two countries,” the Presidency said.
The commission will discuss trade, investment and economic integration, border management and boundary matters, infrastructure, energy and connectivity, disaster management and humanitarian cooperation, defence and security, transnational challenges, as well as regional, continental and global issues.
Several agreements and memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed during the session, reflecting the breadth of cooperation between the two countries.
On the sidelines of the commission, the South Africa-Namibia Business Forum will be held under the theme, Driving Regional Industrialisation, Investment and Sustainable Growth through Strategic South Africa-Namibia Partnerships.
The forum will bring together government representatives, business leaders, investors and industry stakeholders to strengthen commercial partnerships, promote private sector participation, showcase investment opportunities and advance bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
“The forum will serve as a platform to bring together government representatives, business leaders, investors and industry stakeholders, strengthen commercial partnerships, encourage private sector participation in the bilateral relationship, showcase investment opportunities and advance bilateral trade and investment cooperation,” the Presidency said.
The event is being hosted in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Trade, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Presidency said Namibia and South Africa remain among each other’s largest trading partners for both exports and imports. Both countries are also members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
At the conclusion of the summit, the two Heads of State are expected to issue directives aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and advancing initiatives that support economic growth, regional integration and improved livelihoods in both countries.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah is scheduled to depart for South Africa on 16 July and return to Namibia on 17 July 2026.
