Windhoek [Namibia], July 9 (ANI): India is keen to import uranium from Namibia and expand cooperation in critical minerals, oil, gas, and defence, India’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Rahul Shrivastava, said ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit to the African nation.
Speaking to ANI, Shrivastava highlighted India’s longstanding ties with Namibia, calling them “good” and rooted in New Delhi’s early support for Namibia’s independence. He noted that PM Modi’s visit comes after a gap of 27 years, making it a significant opportunity to deepen bilateral relations.
“We are looking at export of uranium from Namibia to India and there have been recent oil and gas discoveries in Namibia, that is also an area of interest,” Shrivastava said. “We will be discussing defence cooperation because Namibia wants to procure defence items from India, and capacity building is one of the important pillars of India-Namibia relations that we will also enhance during the visit.”
He added that Indian public sector undertakings are interested in investing in Namibia’s critical minerals sector, underscoring the economic potential of the partnership.
Outlining PM Modi’s packed itinerary, Shrivastava said the Prime Minister will hold delegation-level talks with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, visit Heroes Acre to pay homage to Namibia’s founding father Dr. Sam Nujoma, address the Namibian Parliament, and interact with the Indian diaspora.
“Prime Minister Modi comes tomorrow early morning, and the visit is for one day. It’s a state visit, but the programme is very full,” Shrivastava noted, describing it as a historic moment for bilateral relations.
On the cheetah reintroduction program, Shrivastava confirmed that discussions on “Project Cheetah 2” are expected during the visit. India has already translocated cheetahs from Namibia as part of its wildlife conservation efforts. “We need more cheetahs to have a good ecological balance, and I’m sure the Prime Minister’s visit will surely lead to Project Cheetah 2 from Namibia,” he said.
Shrivastava also underscored India’s leadership in the Global South, calling Africa a strong partner in this shared vision. “India’s leadership in the Global South is well recognised, and Africa is a very strong partner for India in this regard,” he added, noting Namibia’s participation in all three Voices of Global South summits hosted by India.
PM Modi is currently on the final leg of a five-nation tour, which included stops in Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Brazil, before arriving in Namibia.
In his departure statement before embarking on the tour, PM Modi said: “I look forward to meeting President H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and chart a new roadmap for cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, our regions and the wider Global South. It will be a privilege to also address the Joint Session of Namibian Parliament as we celebrate our enduring solidarity and shared commitment for freedom and development.”
This marks PM Modi’s first visit to Namibia and only the third Prime Ministerial visit from India to the country. (ANI)
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