Namibia and South Africa have signed seven bilateral agreements covering labour, aviation, legal cooperation, public sector capacity building, correctional services, business collaboration and gender equality as the two countries moved to deepen economic and institutional ties.
The agreements were concluded on Friday during the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC), co-chaired by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The two leaders directed ministries, departments and government agencies to develop implementation plans with clear responsibilities and timelines to ensure the agreements deliver measurable outcomes.
According to the joint communiqué, the agreements are intended to accelerate implementation of decisions taken under the BNC framework and strengthen bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
Among the agreements signed was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on employment and labour to enhance collaboration on labour-related issues.
The two countries also concluded an MoU between South Africa’s National School of Government and the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM) to strengthen public sector capacity building through the exchange of expertise and training.
In the aviation sector, Namibia and South Africa signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, while legal cooperation was enhanced through a separate memorandum covering collaboration in legal affairs.
The two governments also signed an MoU on correctional services to improve cooperation between their correctional institutions.
To strengthen private sector engagement, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) signed an Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at promoting trade, investment and business partnerships between companies in both countries.
A seventh agreement focused on bilateral cooperation in gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Beyond the signed agreements, the two governments reaffirmed their commitment to expanding trade and investment, strengthening regional value chains, facilitating private sector partnerships and advancing industrial development and mineral beneficiation.
The two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in the mining, petroleum and natural gas sectors through skills development, research, technology transfer, local value addition and beneficiation.
In the energy sector, Namibia and South Africa committed to closer collaboration in electricity generation and transmission, renewable energy development and regional energy security, including accelerating implementation of the Kudu Gas Power Project.
The leaders further agreed to strengthen cooperation on the Trans-Kalahari Corridor and other regional transport links while expanding collaboration in water resource management, agriculture, food security, public health, skills development and public sector capacity building.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah and President Ramaphosa instructed relevant ministries and agencies to prepare implementation plans for all decisions reached during the Fourth Session of the BNC, with progress to be monitored through regular reviews and the commission’s Mid-Term Review mechanism.
