The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Namibia, in partnership with the industrialisation and trade ministry and the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI), officially handed over advanced laboratory equipment to the NSI. The handover took place on 13 February 2025 at the NSI Testing and Inspection Centre in Walvis Bay.
The high-profile event was graced by the presence of Neville Andre, Erongo region governor, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of Lucia Iipumbu, industrialisation and trade minister. Also in attendance was Ana Beatriz Martins, EU Ambassador to Namibia, alongside senior government officials, business leaders and representatives from non-state actors. “This contribution reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Namibia’s quality infrastructure and fostering deeper trade relations with the EU. The provision of this state-of-the-art equipment will significantly enhance the technical performance and service delivery of the NSI, enabling it to meet international standards and bolster the competitiveness of Namibian products,” said Andre on behalf of Iipumbu.
Meanwhile, Martins reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to Namibia’s economic growth, noting, “The EU is proud to support Namibia in strengthening the national quality infrastructure of Namibia. This was done through procuring top- quality laboratory equipment to meet the needs of the NSI, thereby ensuring that Namibian products meet international standards and gain better access to global markets.’’
On his part, NSI’s CEO Eino Mvula said: “The Namibian Standards Institution is appreciative to receive analytical and measurement equipment to the value of €695 670 from the EU. This equipment received will be used by the NSI in the execution of its role in facilitating access for Namibian products to export markets with a specific focus on trade with the European Union through strengthening the capacity of the NSI Testing, Inspection and Metrology laboratories based in Walvis Bay, Windhoek and Lüderitz.’’ At the same event, independent economist Robin Sherbourne presented key findings of an analysis of Namibia’s trade data and FDI with a focus on the EU. “The EU has been one of Namibia’s most important export markets since at least 2004, and has been Namibia’s largest export market during the last three years,’’ he said.
The new laboratory equipment was procured under the €6 million Programme to Support the EPA Implementation Plan in Namibia, an initiative designed to help Namibia maximise the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in 2016 between the EU and six Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. This agreement grants Namibian exports duty- and quota-free access to the EU market, while allowing the country to protect its sensitive industries from full liberalisation.
Beyond upgrading NSI’s testing capabilities, the programme is driving broader trade and economic development efforts. It supports institutional capacity-building by aligning national regulations with EPA provisions on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, and Rules of Origin. It also fosters private sector participation through initiatives such as the first EPA Trade Forum in Namibia, and the first EU-Namibia Business Forum in Brussels. Additionally, the programme strengthens key value chains by promoting Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and developing Namibia’s National Standardisation Strategy to enhance product certification.
By investing in Namibia’s trade infrastructure and quality standards, the EU and Namibia are paving the way for increased export-led growth, industrialisation and job-creation. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to fostering a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Namibian economy.