INDIA-NAMIBIA RELATION

Why in News?

India’s Prime Minister undertook a State Visit to Namibia (the first by an Indian PM in 27 years) addressed the Namibian Parliament, and reaffirmed India’s commitment to a partnership with Africa founded on dialogue, not dominance.

Highlights of the visit:

• Prime Minister became the first Indian leader to receive Namibia’s highest civilian award, the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis.
• Namibia submitted its letter of acceptance to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• It also accepted membership in the Global Biofuels Alliance.
• Namibia became one of the first African countries to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI)platform, enhancing digital financial inclusion.
• Namibia was invited to join India’s Jan Aushadhi programme, which reduces medicine costs by 50–80%

India-Namibia Relation:

• Historical and Political Ties:India was among the first countries to raise Namibia’s independence at the United Nations in 1946, extended material and diplomatic support to South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO led Namibia’s liberation struggle). 
• Cheetah Translocation Project: In 2022, India received eight cheetahs from Namibia, achieving the world’s first intercontinental relocation of a major carnivore species.
• Development Assistance:India provided 30,000 Covishield doses to Namibia, and established the India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in IT (INCEIT) and an India Wing at the University of Namibia. 
• Economic Relations:Bilateral trade stood at USD 568.40 million in 2024–25, with key sectors including mining, energy, agriculture, education, infrastructure, health, and trade.

Location:

• Namibiais a Southern African nation with its western boundary formed by the Atlantic Ocean. 
• Namibia shares its northern borders with Angola and Zambia, while Botswana lies to the east, and South Africa borders its eastern and southern regions.