LUANDA – President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is leading Namibia’s delegation to the 2025 US-Africa Business Summit being held in Luanda, Angola, where the country is expected to seek investment in the oil, gas and infrastructure sectors.
The summit, taking place from yesterday to 25 June, brings together African leaders, US government officials and business representatives under the theme “Pathways to prosperity: A shared vision for US-Africa partnership.”
Namibia’s presence signals a strong commitment to securing investments in key sectors, including energy, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, and education.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah is scheduled to speak during a plenary session on advancing US-Africa energy partnerships today, and again tomorrow in a discussion on women in leadership and investment.
Namibia’s participation comes at a time the country has made major oil and gas discoveries and is positioning itself as a new player in the global energy market.
Namibia’s ambassador to Angola Patrick Nandago said the summit is a chance to attract serious investors and learn from countries like Angola, which has a well-established oil industry.
“We have just discovered oil and gas,” Nandago said in an interview. “We still need people to invest in that sector, we need to put up infrastructure relevant to the industry. This is a platform to listen, to share, and to attract the right partnerships.”
President Nandi-Ndaitwah is accompanied by senior government officials and business leaders, including Minister of International Relations Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi, and Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Gaudentia Kröhne.
The Namibian delegation also includes the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and private sector representatives.
Ambassador Nandago said Namibia stands to benefit from Angola’s experience as one of Africa’s largest oil producers.
“Angola is one of the wealthiest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of natural resources, and they have gone through the journey we are just beginning,” he said. “We want to learn from their mistakes and their successes.”
He added that Angola’s population of more than 30 million gives the country strong buying power, making it a key trading partner for Namibia.
The relationship between the two countries, he said, is built on shared history.
“Our bond is strong because we fought together during the liberation struggle,” Nandago said.
He continued: “We shared the trenches and the sacrifices. Today, we have signed close to 40 bilateral agreements in areas like defence, energy, water, health and education.”
The ambassador said Namibia is attending the summit to promote investment opportunities in various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, health and education.
“We want to expand our market and attract the investment we need to develop,” he said. “There is always room to improve. This summit gives us that chance to hear new ideas, learn about innovations and build meaningful partnerships.”
Presidential Press Secretary Alfredo Hengari said the summit is also important for showcasing Namibia’s leadership and its readiness for international investment.
“President Nandi-Ndaitwah will use this opportunity to present Namibia as a stable, investment-ready country with strong governance and growing potential,” he said.
Tomorrow, the President is expected to speak on a panel about women in leadership, where she will highlight the role of women in driving innovation and shaping economic policy.
Hengari said this will reflect Namibia’s commitment to inclusive development.
“This is about more than business. It is also about showing that Namibia values leadership that includes everyone,” he said.
The US-Africa Business Summit is hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa and the Angolan government. It focuses on expanding trade, investment and business cooperation between the US and African countries.
The President is expected to return to Namibia tomorrow evening after completing her engagements.