High-level EU delegation to visit Namibia

EU officials to strengthen partnership and assess Global Gateway projects
  • 19 Hours Ago
A high-level delegation from the European Union (EU) will visit Namibia from 17 to 19 September 2025 to reinforce bilateral ties and assess how EU-backed Global Gateway investments are supporting Namibia’s green industrialisation, job creation and economic growth.

The delegation will be led by the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, alongside Barry Andrews, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Development. They will be joined by eight senior Members of the Committee and the Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly.

During their visit, the European representatives will meet with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, senior Namibian decision-makers, civil society groups, the private sector and other stakeholders. The programme also includes site visits to projects financed under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which combines infrastructure investment with skills development and social initiatives to create new employment opportunities.

According to the EU, the mission has four main objectives, namely to strengthen cooperation under the Strategic Partnership on Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Material value chains, a key part of Namibia’s green industrialisation strategy; to demonstrate the EU’s Global Gateway approach, which spans investment in infrastructure, education and social projects; to highlight the EU’s role as Namibia’s leading trade and development partner, built on shared values and mutual respect; and to promote inclusive economic transition, ensuring that job creation and private sector opportunities benefit all Namibians.



Commitment

Commissioner Síkela emphasised the EU’s commitment to partnership, stating: “This visit to Namibia with the European Parliament underlines how committed we are to joining forces on the EU side, together with EU member states and financial institutions, in a Team Europe approach to unlock economic and job opportunities under Global Gateway. Together with Namibia’s leadership, and combined with the firepower of European companies and the local private sector, we want to drive meaningful and sustainable impact, advancing the shared goals of prosperity and green development for the Namibian people.”

Andrews described the visit as an important opportunity to deepen ties. “It is an honour to represent the European Parliament for this important mission to Namibia. The European Parliament is a champion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and at a time of growing global insecurity our commitment to building relations with countries such as Namibia is more important than ever. Effective cooperation requires strong democratic dialogue, transparency and accountability, and I look forward to meeting key decision-makers, including the President, and civil society representatives during our trip.”

This year marks the 35th anniversary of EU-Namibia bilateral relations. The EU, through its Team Europe approach, is Namibia’s largest trade and development partner, with a positive trade surplus for Namibia that supports local and regional value chains.

The visit aims to underline the depth of EU-Namibia cooperation under the Global Gateway, the EU’s €300 billion strategy to close global investment gaps. Launched by G7 leaders in 2021, the initiative promotes sustainable, high-standard and transparent infrastructure investment. Global Gateway aligns with the UN’s Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement.