Ramaphosa, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah remarks at the South Africa-Namibia Business Forum
July 18, 2026
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South Africa and Namibia are building a strong partnership between government and business to boost investments, expand regional trade, and support industrial growth, and these efforts are crucial for creating more competitive economies, sustainable jobs, and shared prosperity across Southern Africa.
Both the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the President of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, spoke at the South Africa-Namibia Business Forum on Friday at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, as part of the Fourth Session of the South Africa-Namibia Binational Commission (BNC).
President Cyril Ramaphosa said this Business Forum comes at a significant moment in the relationship between the two nations, noting that earlier today they concluded the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission with President Nandi-Ndaitwah.
“Our discussions reaffirmed what history has long taught us: that South Africa and Namibia are strongest when we work together,” Ramaphosa said.
“Our two nations are bound together by geography, history, and the enduring bonds forged during our common struggle for liberation.”
He highlighted that the forum aims not just to reflect on the past, but to shape a shared future. This future will be influenced not only by governments but also by entrepreneurs discovering new opportunities and investors taking calculated risks.
He added that it will also be shaped by innovators solving problems and workers whose talent and dedication turn ideas into productive enterprises.
“Business has a decisive role to play in translating the political friendship between our countries into lasting economic prosperity. Political solidarity must become economic partnership,” he said.
“Shared history must become shared prosperity. Friendship must become investment.”
He emphasised that South Africa and Namibia have a remarkable opportunity to position themselves as complementary economies capable of serving regional, continental, and global markets.
Ramaphosa outlined that the two countries can act as gateways for investment into Southern Africa, building regional value chains that create jobs and demonstrate that African countries grow faster when they work together.
“This is precisely the vision that underpins the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
“Trade between our two countries has grown substantially in recent years. South Africa remains Namibia’s largest trading partner.”
He highlighted that this shows the strength of the relationship and the confidence businesses have in each other.
Although trade has grown, he noted it is still concentrated in a narrow range of products, with South Africa exporting a diverse basket of manufactured goods and services to Namibia.
“Namibia’s exports to South Africa remain heavily concentrated in minerals, particularly gold. Diversification is therefore not simply desirable- it is an economic necessity,” he said.
“A more diversified trading relationship will make both our economies more resilient, create higher-value industries, and generate more sustainable employment.”
He said he saw the investment as an even greater opportunity, with South African companies having invested heavily in Namibia over many years.
He added that these investments have contributed to Namibia’s industrial sectors, including finance, mining, retail, and telecommunications.
“We encourage Namibian companies to see South Africa not only as a destination for exports, but as a destination for investment, innovation, and long-term partnership,” he said.
“Likewise, we encourage South African companies to deepen their investments in Namibia’s productive economy.”
He stressed that the goal should be more than just selling products; it should involve manufacturing, innovating, and competing together in regional and global markets.
He said the government has agreed to continue easing trade and investment barriers.
“Our respective investment promotion agencies should work together to provide practical support for businesses entering each other’s markets,” he said.
“They should simplify processes, improve information sharing and assist companies – particularly small and medium-sized enterprises – to expand across our borders.”
He highlighted that the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) remains a vital strategic asset for South Africa, demonstrating resilience.
He said the recent summit agreed that SACU should become a driver of industrialisation, regional value chains, and increased competitiveness.
“The priority sectors we have identified – including agro-processing, meat and leather, fruit and vegetables, textiles and clothing, cosmetics, and essential oils – offer significant opportunities for joint investment,” he said.
“South Africa’s Special Economic Zones and Namibia’s industrial development initiatives provide an ideal platform for these partnerships.”
He urged businesses to move from discussion to action by identifying concrete projects that can strengthen regional value chains, especially in industries of the future.
He outlined that Namibia’s rich renewable energy reoduction
He added that South Africa offers advanced industrial capabilities, engineering expertise, research institutions, financial markets, ports, and manufacturing capacity.
“Together, we can establish Southern Africa as a globally competitive hub for green hydrogen and green industrialisation,” he said.
“The same applies to critical minerals, renewable energy, logistics, digital infrastructure, data centres, advanced manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, financial services and the blue economy.”
He said these are sectors where comparative advantages complement one another and can create thousands of good jobs for young people.
He noted that business success relies on stable policies, infrastructure investment, rule of law, and a supportive environment for enterprise.
He reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to implementing reforms that improve the investment climate, expand infrastructure, strengthen institutions, and fuel faster economic growth.
He hoped this forum would be remembered for new partnerships, investments, and business ventures.
“Let us leave here determined to transform friendship into enterprise, opportunity into investment, and cooperation into shared prosperity,” he said.
“As I said earlier, the next chapter in the relationship between Namibia and South Africa should not be written only by governments.”
Ndaitwah expressed her hope that this summit would be remembered as the moment they fulfilled that mission and closed the chapter on colonialism for the benefit of current and future generations.
“It is my hope that we will leave this summit with realistic, implementable decisions that serve our people better,” Ndaitwah said.
She expressed gratitude for the R100 million Presidential Drought Relief Project, used to install boreholes across Namibia, showing the strong bonds of unity and mutual support that underpin their cooperation.
She noted that Namibia has faced a severe El Niño-induced drought, with joint teams from both countries visiting sites in Oshikoto, Ohangwena, and Zambezi Regions between 1 and 6 June 2026.
“The purpose was to finalize the modalities for the completion of the project, with the remaining R27 million earmarked for the second phase,” she said.
“With great appreciation, I look forward to the completion of the remaining boreholes identified for installation in specific regions.”
Highlighting key priorities for the summit, she outlined exploring the possibility of transmitting electricity from Angola through Namibia to South Africa.
She stressed that reliable, interconnected energy infrastructure is vital for regional integration and unlocking economic potential.
“I would, therefore, propose to Comrade President that, as part of this BNC decision, we mandate our Ministers responsible for Energy to engage their Angolan counterpart to formalize the proposal to transmit electricity from Angola through Namibia to South Africa,” she said.
While acknowledging global efforts to combat climate change, she noted Namibia’s position on the principle of Common-but-Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) under international environmental treaties.
She said this principle guides Namibia’s approach to developing its emerging oil and gas industry, balancing economic growth with climate commitments.
She welcomed the decision made at the 9th SACU Summit in Cape Town in June 2026 to accelerate the Re-Imagined SACU Agenda.
“We do not view this as a technical exercise for officials alone, but as a question of whether our Customs Union will remain fit to shield the economies of SACU from a global trading environment,” she said.
“Namibia looks forward to working with South Africa and the rest of the SACU membership to ensure that a reimagined SACU serves the industrialization aspirations
She appreciated South Africa’s principled stance on international issues, especially Palestine, during these turbulent times.
She said Namibia reaffirmed its support for Palestine and subjugation.
“Namibia continues to reaffirm our solidarity with the Palestinian people in the pursuit of their right to self-determination,” she said.
“Namibia and South Africa remain resolute
in our support for the people of Western Sahara, the last colony on the African continent, in their long and just struggle for freedom.”
She praised South Africa’s leadership of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), first as Interim Chair and now as full Chair since August.
Confident that under South Africa’s guidance, the region will advance industrialisation, integration, and resilience, she expressed her support for regional development.
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