India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, culminated the first India-Namibia Joint Commission of Cooperation on Tuesday, marking a significant stride in the growing partnership between both nations. The multi-domain collaboration includes energy, infrastructure, wildlife conservation, trade, investment, food security, digital, capacity building, health, defence, and arts, culture, heritage, and people-to-people linkages.
During his address, Jaishankar took satisfaction in being the first Indian External Affairs Minister to visit Namibia and to chair the inaugural meeting of the Joint
Commission. He emphasised that the future of the bilateral partnership relies on the shared struggle for freedom, which has formed the basis of a robust development partnership, stronger capacity building, expanded trade, and initial investments in the past three decades.
Jaishankar noted the India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology, inaugurated by the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia and himself, as a standout example of the partnership. He further highlighted the wide-ranging cooperation in health, education, and electrification, hoping to elevate it through the Joint Commission.
A remarkable aspect of the partnership highlighted by Jaishankar was wildlife diplomacy. He noted the reintroduction of cheetahs from Namibia to India, calling it a milestone and the foundation for future initiatives such as the proposed Big Cat alliance.
Furthermore, Jaishankar discussed the thriving diamond industry in Namibia, wherein Indian industry representatives take pride in imparting skills to their Namibian counterparts. He also referred to the UN’s declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, with India leading a mission to enhance global millet production and consumption, potentially emerging as a new focus area in the India-Namibia partnership.
Other areas of discussion during the Joint Commission included digital delivery of public goods, advances in fintech, education, defence, and cooperation in arts, culture, heritage, and people-to-people contexts. Infrastructure development pertaining to railways, roads, ports, electricity transmission, and water usage were also addressed.
Jaishankar’s visit to Windhoek, received by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu, was the first by an Indian External Affairs Minister to Namibia. He interacted with the country’s top leadership during his visit, having previously attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
Jaishankar expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and global support following the tragic train accident in Odisha, India, during his address to the Indian diaspora in Namibia. He cited this as evidence of how interconnected the world has become with India.
