Namibia has emphasised the importance of natural diamonds and energy development as key drivers of economic growth at the 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit held in Luanda, Angola. 

Speaking during a side interview after attending the summit, Ben Nangombe, Executive Director in the Ministry of Mines, Trade, and Industrialisation, said the Namibian delegation used the platform to promote natural diamonds, attract investments in energy and mining, and showcase local products. 

“The importance of natural diamonds and the impact they can make on our society and economic growth is very significant,” Nangombe said. 

“The conference brought together countries like South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Angola and others to tackle the challenge of synthetic diamonds.” 

Nangombe explained that one of the key outcomes of the diamond-focused conference held ahead of the business summit was a decision by diamond-producing countries to work more closely with the private sector. 

Their goal is to launch a structured marketing campaign that will promote natural diamonds over synthetic ones. “The meeting went very well,” he said. “Governments of diamond-producing countries agreed to engage the private sector in a more aggressive way to promote natural diamonds in the market. This is in response to the growing competition from synthetic diamonds.” Namibia was represented at that meeting by a strong delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Industrialisation, Trade, Mines and Energy. 

Summit 

The second part of the mission was participation in the U.S.-Africa Business Summit, which officially began on Monday. The Namibian delegation is being led by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who joined over 15 other African heads of state. 

“The summit is a high-level meeting, and we are seeing hundreds of American companies taking part,” Nangombe said. “Our embassy in Washington has also played a leading role in coordinating Namibia’s participation.” Among the key issues discussed at the summit are energy, mining, digitisation, and health. 

“Our President made it clear that energy is the enabler of economic growth, industrialisation and poverty reduction,” said the executive director. “That’s why we are focused on bringing investment into the energy sector.” He added that in the mining sector, Namibia is promoting critical raw materials like lithium and rare earth elements, which are vital in producing electric vehicles, batteries, and mobile phones. “There is a high demand for these materials, and we want to attract investment that will help us develop these resources,” he said. 

Investors 

One of the messages Namibia delivered during the summit is the need for governments and industries to build mutual trust. “Our President emphasised that governments must build trust with industries so that engagements are mutually beneficial,” the ED said. 

“We want private investors to come explore opportunities in Namibia — but we also want those investments to benefit our people.” 

Namibia is calling for investment that includes local value-addition, such as the establishment of processing and manufacturing facilities. 

This, Nangombe said, would ensure that Namibia does not export raw materials in their natural form but rather processes them locally to create jobs and develop skills. “We want to make sure that we are not just exporting raw materials,” he said. “Instead, we are adding value, creating local jobs, transferring technology, and developing the skills of our people.” 

Showcasing 

Namibia also used the summit to showcase its locally produced goods. The country has a display booth featuring a variety of Namibian products. 

“We are showcasing Namibian milk, fruits such as dates, and other products,” Nangombe said. “This is a chance to increase our market share and grow our companies to participate more in exports across Africa and beyond.” He also noted the presence of Indian investors at the summit, which further expands networking and trade opportunities for Namibia. 

Opportunity 

The ED described the summit as a valuable opportunity for African countries to engage with global investors and business leaders. – ljason@nepc.com.na