India’s new High Commissioner to Namibia, Rahul Shrivastava, says his country has consistently been at the vanguard of support for Namibia, before and after independence in a mutually beneficial relationship that continues to grow in leaps and bounds to this day.
Shrivastava hastened to say the enduring relationship between the two countries, founded on solidarity, shared concerns, and mutual support, has gained renewed momentum over the past year through high-level engagements and bilateral initiatives.
“Our bilateral trade has exhibited a remarkably positive trajectory. The total trade volume surged to US$813 million (N$14 billion), reflecting an impressive growth rate of 192% last year as compared to the previous year.
Notably, India’s exports to Namibia increased by 88%, amounting to US$453 million (N$8.3 billion),” he said during the celebration of India’s 76th Republic Day in Windhoek recently.
Shrivastava has taken over from Mandarapu Subbarayudu, who went on retirement mid-last year.
He added that over the past 76 years, India has largely fulfilled the commitments enshrined in the Constitution, which aspires to secure justice, liberty, and equality for all citizens.
“India has proudly contributed to Namibia’s developmental journey, and our bilateral development partnership continues to flourish. Last year, we extended over 230 training and scholarship opportunities across a diverse array of fields,” he indicated.
Shrivastava said to date, more than 1 700 Namibian professionals, including 1 400 participants from the ITEC programme, have benefitted from training at Indian institutions.
Additionally, a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the India-Namibia Entrepreneurship Development Centre has been finalised and will be signed soon.
Shrivastava added: “The centre will provide technical services to new entrepreneurs and offer capacity-building programmes to existing entrepreneurs in the areas of performance improvement and growth, SMEs, export marketing, and total quality management.”
Namibia’s deputy international relations minister Jenelly Matundu said Namibia considers India a strategic bilateral partner.
“Both sides have shown significant commitment to expanding cooperation in various areas, and as a result, our bilateral relations have since grown in depth and strength, buttressed by mutual trust, solidarity, and true South-South cooperation,” she said.
Matundu has witnessed the elevated bilateral relations between Namibia and India, which are bearing tangible fruits, including the Faculty of Computing Namibia at the University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the High Commission of India, which launched the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology in June 2023.
“The Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Affairs in New Delhi hosted a two-week session for young diplomats of the Global South, of which three were Namibians, making Namibia’s participation the highest. The programme served as a platform for the young diplomats of the global south to engage on matters affecting their countries and to learn the art of diplomacy from veteran Indian diplomats,” she highlighted.
Matundu said the government was extremely grateful that India had donated 1 000 tonnes of rice and 1 000 tonnes of maize towards Namibia’s drought relief efforts.
She said Namibia’s extensive engagement with India, like capacity-building initiatives and support programmes, continues being instrumental in helping the people of Namibia to make Vision 2030 a reality.
-psiririka@nepc.com.na