India-Namibia Deepen Ties with MoUs on Health, Entrepreneurship & UPI Tech
In a landmark development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday oversaw the signing of two significant MoUs in health and entrepreneurship during the Indian PM’s historic one-day state visit to Windhoek — the first such visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 27 years.
The agreements include the establishment of an Entrepreneurship Development Centre and another focused on Cooperation in Health and Medicine. These moves are set to open new pathways in capacity building, innovation, and public health collaboration between the two nations.
Namibia also made headlines by becoming the first African nation to adopt India’s UPI technology, with a digital payments system expected to launch later this year. This stems from the UPI licensing agreement signed between NPCI and Bank of Namibia in April 2024 — a milestone in India’s global digital expansion.
Adding further momentum to the partnership, Namibia joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Global Biofuels Alliance, aligning itself with India’s global sustainability missions.
Earlier, PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the State House in Windhoek. During his dialogue with President Nandi-Ndaitwah — her first hosted bilateral visit since assuming office in March — the leaders exchanged warm sentiments. PM Modi congratulated her and also offered condolences for the passing of Namibia’s Founding Father, Dr. Sam Nujoma.
The leaders discussed widening cooperation in sectors like defence, maritime security, agriculture, energy, critical minerals, pharma, and digital technologies. Modi offered Indian expertise and support for Quick Impact Development Projects in areas such as IT, cybersecurity, women and child welfare, and drone usage in agriculture.
PM Modi also invited Namibia to join the International Big Cat Alliance, in appreciation of its pivotal role in India’s Cheetah reintroduction project. Both leaders expressed a strong stance on global terrorism and pledged to strengthen the voice of the Global South.
The visit concluded with a state banquet in Modi’s honour and a cordial invitation extended to President Nandi-Ndaitwah to visit India soon.
