The European Union (EU) reflected that its partnership with Namibia has been stronger, as the two sides celebrated 35 years of diplomatic and economic relations. Speaking at a media engagement on Wednesday evening, EU ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins said that the EU remains Namibia’s biggest trading partner and the largest single market for Namibian goods.
Martins said the trade relationship is not only deep but also diverse, benefiting key sectors and supporting thousands of jobs across the country.
She explained that EU demand for Namibian products directly supports local job creation.
“Europe is a high-value market for Namibian beef, and Namibia remains the only African country allowed to export fresh beef to the EU. This access has helped sustain employment in the agricultural and livestock industries,” she said.
Martins also pointed to the table grape industry, which she said employs around 15 000 people, almost matching the mining sector’s 18 000 jobs.
“Agricultural products exported to Europe are creating quite a lot of jobs,” she said.
Reflecting on the past 35 years, Martins said EU-Namibia relations have grown from traditional donor-recipient ties into a partnership of equals.
She noted that EU funding supported Namibia even before independence. But today, the relationship is defined by trade, investment, and shared strategic goals, rather than aid alone.
“We can proudly say that our relations moved from donor support to a partnership of equals. On the trade side, they are very significant,” she said.
Namibia once again recorded a trade surplus with the EU this year. For the strategic cooperation on green hydrogen and raw materials.
Beyond agriculture, we are working closely on critical raw materials and green hydrogen, areas seen as vital for Namibia’s green industrialisation plans and Europe’s clean-energy transition,” she said.
The ambassador said she is encouraged by the growing interest from Namibian journalists and businesses, adding that the relationship is set to deepen as Namibia advances its plans for green hydrogen, renewable energy, and value-added mining.
“We are proud of what we have reached together. Our relationship is strong, diverse, and forward-looking,” she said.