India - Namibia Bilateral Relations

India and Namibia enjoy warm and cordial relations. The Namibian people and leadership view India as a dependable and trusted friend. Indian support during their liberation struggle is warmly recalled by Namibian leaders. We have reciprocated fully, endeavouring to strengthen relations further.

Background of the relationship

India was among the first nations to raise the question of Namibian independence in the UN, way back in 1946. The first SWAPO (which led Namibia’s liberation struggle) Embassy abroad was established in New Delhi in 1986. Accordance of full diplomatic status and support at NAM was also accompanied by material assistance and military training.

Lt. Gen. Dewan Prem Chand of Indian Army headed the UN peacekeeping force (UNTAG) deployed in Namibia (1989-90) to monitor the peace process and elections.

After Namibian independence, the Indian Observer Mission was upgraded to a full-fledged High Commission on 21 March 1990. Namibia opened a full-fledged resident Mission in New Delhi in March 1994.

High-Level visits/meetings

High-level visits at HoS/HoG/FM level have taken place from both sides regularly in the past (since 1990) as also in recent times.
Prime Minister Modi paid a State Visit to Namibia on 9 July 2025 and held a bilateral meeting with Dr. Netumo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia.  The PM was conferred with the highest civilian award of Namibia - Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis. PM addressed the Parliament of Namibia and met the Indian diaspora. Two MoUs were signed, one in the field of Health and Medicine and the other on the establishment of India-Namibia Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Namibia.  Namibia joined Global BioFuels Alliance (GBA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI). Namibia also became observer at the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
Prime Minister Modi and President of Namibia Dr Hage Geingob met on the sidelines of UNGA session in New York in September 2019.
President Pranab Mukherjee paid a State visit to Namibia in June 2016.
President of Namibia Dr Hage Geingob visited India in October 2015 to attend 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar (EAM) paid a three day official visit to  Namibia from 4-6 June 2023, during which he called on President Dr. Hage G Geingob, held talks with DPM, co-chaired  the first Joint Commission Meeting, and together with the Namibian dignitaries inaugurated the India-Namibia Centre for Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT) in Windhoek.
EAM met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Kigali on the sidelines of CHOGM in June 2022.
DPM and Minister of International Relations of Namibia visited India to take part in the 17th CII-India Conclave on India Africa Growth Partnership held from 19-20 July 2022 and held bilateral talks with EAM. The visit saw signing of three bilateral agreements. 

Other important visits/meetings

Ms. Elsie Nghikembu, Chairperson, and Mr. Pius Likwanbi, Commissioner of Electoral Commission of Namibia participated  at the three-day international conference organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in January 2026 in New Delhi. An MOU on Election Management was also signed during the visit.

India and Namibia held the 5th Foreign Office Consultations at New Delhi on 19-20 January 2026 and reviewed the bilateral relationship in sectors of mutual interest. 
A delegation led by Air Vice Marshal Teofilus Shaende, Air Force Commander of  Namibia visited India in June 2025.

Parliamentary exchanges

Lukas Sinimbo Muha, Chairperson of the National Council of Namibia accompanied by Phillipus Katamelo, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly attended the recently concluded 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi from 14-16 January 2026.

Speaker, Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla and former Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia Dr. Peter Katjavivi met during the 149th Inter Parliamentary Union meeting at Geneva on 14th October 2024.
Speaker of Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla met with Chairperson of Namibian National Council Mr Lukas Sinimbo Muha on the sidelines of 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Vienna, Austria on 9 September 2021.

Development Partnership

India provides numerous scholarships to Namibians under ITEC and ICCR programmes. Besides, training slots for their defence personnel are also offered every year.
Two ITEC experts from Indian Army are deputed to Namibian Ministry of Defence. Since 1996, an Indian Air Force Technical Team (IAFTT) is stationed in Namibia to train Namibian Air Force helicopter pilots and hone their technical skills.

The state-of-the-art laboratory designed to equip signal personnel of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) with advanced networking and information technology skills was inaugurated by Hon'ble Dr. Charles Mobita, Deputy Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Namibia at the School of Signals, Okahandja on 23 March 2026. The lab was set up with GOI support.
Government of India donated Namibia with 1000 tonnes of rice and 1000 tonnes of maize during end December 2024 as humanitarian assistance to support the people of Namibia who are affected by drought situation.

India gifted 30,000 doses of Covishield Vaccines in March 2021 to combat Covid-19 pandemic. India gifted 1,000 MT rice for drought relief in 2019 as also in 2017. Previously as well, India supported Namibia multiple times to fight natural calamities like drought and floods.

An India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in IT (INCEIT) was set up at Namibia University of Science & Technology (NUST) with Indian support, including provision of a super-computer. An ‘India Wing’ was established at University of Namibia’s Ongwediwa campus through a grant support of about USD 12 million by India. India also provided assistance to improve health infrastructure.

Economic and Commercial

The bilateral trade has showed a steady growth in recent years. In the year 2024-25, the two-way trade touched US$568.40 million. The total trade during the year 2025-26 has increased to US$ 608.12 with India’s exports at US$  479.43 million and imports from Namibia amounted to US$ 128.69 million.
India and SACU with Namibia as Coordinator have finalised the Terms of Reference for the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Bank of Namibia have signed a UPI technology Licensing Agreement enabling collaboration between the two sides in the area of digital payments. 
3rd Meeting of Joint Working Group (JWG) on Mineral and Mining Sector between India and Namibia was held on 30 September 2025 in hybrid mode.

Project Cheetah

On 17 September 2022, PM Modi released eight cheetahs translocated from Namibia to India at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh as part of Cheetah’s reintroduction into India’s wilds. This transfer was the world’s first ever intercontinental trans-location of a major carnivore species and attracted global interest and attention.
Cultural
Multi-faceted relations between India and Namibia are complemented by cultural bonding. Celebrations are held of important days/anniversaries together with Indian community and friends of India in Namibia.
Yoga is popular in Namibia. Regular free yoga classes are conducted at the High Commission.

Indian Community
Presently, there are about  four hundred and fifty Indians/NRIs/PIOs in Namibia. Presence of Indian community in Namibia is growing steadily. India Namibia Friendship Association (INFA) was established in 2020.

 

Useful Resources:

Website: https://hciwindhoek.gov.in
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndiainNamibia
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You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@indiainnamibia  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-commission-of-india-windhoek

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July 2026