More than 150 Namibian business representatives participated in the Namibia–China (Shanghai) Business Forum, where the government pitched Namibia as a gateway to Southern Africa and sought to attract Chinese investment into energy, mining, logistics, manufacturing and value addition.
The forum formed part of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s State Visit to China and is aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries while expanding trade and investment between Namibian and Chinese businesses.
Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi said the large Namibian business delegation reflected growing interest in securing market access, attracting investment and forming joint ventures with Chinese companies.
“When you invest in Namibia, you are not investing in a market of over three million people. You are investing in a market of more than 300 million consumers across the SADC region and 1.2 billion people in the wider African market,” Ashipala-Musavyi said.
She said Namibia offers investors strategic access to regional markets through the Port of Walvis Bay, supported by ongoing investments in transport infrastructure and trade corridors.
“The Port of Walvis Bay is not just a port; it is the gateway to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a market of more than 300 million consumers,” she said.
Energy and mining featured prominently during the investment forum, with the government promoting opportunities in green hydrogen, offshore oil and gas, critical minerals and mineral beneficiation.
Ashipala-Musavyi said Namibia’s renewable energy resources and recent hydrocarbon discoveries position the country as a key investment destination for the global energy transition.
“We have the highest levels of solar radiation and some of the strongest winds on the planet. Our flagship Tsau //Khaeb Green Hydrogen Project is not a pipe dream; it is a reality that is attracting billions of dollars in investment,” she said.
She also urged Chinese companies to invest in downstream mineral processing rather than exporting raw materials.
“Let us process our lithium into battery precursors. Let us smelt our copper into wire. Let us create value where the ore is mined,” Ashipala-Musavyi said.
The minister said Namibia is implementing reforms to improve the ease of doing business, including streamlined administrative processes, digital visa systems, easier access to industrial land and a regulatory framework designed to strengthen investor confidence.
“Namibia is governed by the rule of law, with a robust judiciary, a free press and a transparent financial system,” she said.
The forum concluded with calls for stronger partnerships between Namibian and Chinese businesses across agriculture, infrastructure, energy, logistics, education, manufacturing and e-commerce as both countries seek to deepen economic cooperation.
