Namibia and the UAE Strengthen Trade and Investment Ties at High-Level Business Forum

The Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT), in collaboration with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), convened the Namibia-UAE Business Forum on 18 February 2026, in Windhoek, bringing together a high-level UAE business delegation and Namibian public and private sector stakeholders to strengthen commercial partnerships and unlock new opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration.

Hon. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and Trade led the Namibian delegation accompanied by the Ministers of Health and Social Services; Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture; Industries, Mines and Energy; and Works and Transport. H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates led the UAE delegation which represented a broad range of sectors including investment, mining, agriculture and food security, logistics, water and power, health, finance, oil and gas, and advanced technology.

The Forum marked a significant milestone in the bilateral relations of Namibia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Ministers from both countries delivering substantive remarks and sector-focused Namibian Ministers identifying concrete areas for cooperation.

Opening the Forum, NIPDB Acting CEO, Jessica Hauuanga highlighted that the UAE remains a strategic economic partner for Namibia, further expressing hope that the business forum would mark the beginning of ongoing dialogue and a strategic partnership that would translate into joint ventures and bankable projects to expand the trade and investment linkages that already exist between Namibia and the United Arab Emirates.

Minister of International Relations and Trade Hon. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, outlined Namibia's development priorities and the key enablers underpinning them, including energy, green hydrogen, oil and gas, mining and tourism. The Minister drew attention to existing bilateral trade flows; noting that Namibia's exports to the UAE include diamonds, scrap metals, charcoal, precious stones, frozen fish, grapes and dates and called for deeper cooperation centered on value addition and beneficiation before export.

The Honourable Minister highlighted investment opportunities in diamond cutting and polishing, joint ventures in agro processing, irrigation technology and food value chains, as well as the need for appropriate and affordable water technologies to support growth across communities and industries. She further referenced Namibia's logistics competitiveness, including the expanded caracity at the Port of Walvis Bay and its regional corridor connectivity.

As a concrete way forward, Minister Ashipala-Musavyi, proposed the establishment of a Bilateral Economic Commission to give structure and momentum to cooperation, with a focus on technology transfer, skills development, industrialization and manufacturing.

UAE Signals Commitment to Practical and Enabling Cooperation

H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the UAE, welcomed the opportunity to deepen engagement with Namibia and underscored the significance of the Forum taking place at the start of Ramadan. He outlined the UAE's approach to economic expansion through trade, logistics and market opening, and emphasized the importance of building government-to-government frameworks

that create confidence for the private sector.

Dr Al Zeyoudi, noted that current trade and investment figures do not yet reflect the full potential of both countries, and called for practical follow-through after the Forum. He indicated that the UAE is keen to explore investment protection and double taxation agreements to create a more predictable and enabling environment for investors.

Following the official programme, the Forum transitioned into structured business-to-business engagements, enabling UAE and Namibian companies to exchange details, explore partnerships and identify next steps. MIRT and NIPDB will continue to support follow-up engagements, including investment facilitation, coordination with relevant ministries and stakeholder matchmaking, to potentially help convert interest into tangible projects and long-term investment.