Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to go on a landmark visit to Namibia on July 9, marking the final leg of his five-nation tour and becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the African nation in nearly three decades. The visit is expected to significantly strengthen bilateral ties between India and Namibia, a relationship rooted in India’s historic support for Namibia’s independence movement.
Reviving Historical Bonds
India was one of the earliest supporters of Namibia’s struggle for freedom, having raised the issue at the United Nations as early as 1946. India also hosted the first overseas office of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) in 1986, solidifying its commitment to Namibia’s liberation cause. Prime Minister Modi’s visit will not only revive these deep historical bonds but also pave the way for enhanced cooperation in technology, trade, and development.
During his stay in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. He is also scheduled to address a joint session of Namibia’s Parliament, where he is expected to highlight shared values and common goals. A major highlight of the visit will be the signing of a technology agreement that will enable unified payment interoperability between India and Namibia. This agreement is aimed at enhancing collaboration in the fintech and digital sectors, reflecting India’s growing leadership in digital public infrastructure.
Namibia’s Strategic Importance
Namibia’s wealth of natural resources has been attracting increased global attention. The country is the fourth-largest producer of uranium oxide, vital for the nuclear energy industry, and it also produces zinc, copper, cobalt, rare earth minerals, and gem-quality diamonds. With the global push for clean energy and advanced battery storage, Namibia’s reserves of cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements have gained renewed importance. India’s interest in these sectors is likely to be a key point of discussion during PM Modi’s visit.
Bilateral trade between India and Namibia stood at approximately USD 814 million in 2023-24, with Indian exports making up over half of this figure. Indian investments in Namibia are estimated at nearly USD 800 million, primarily concentrated in the mining sector, including zinc and diamonds. As India looks to secure critical minerals essential for its energy transition, Namibia presents a strategic partner. Discussions to expand trade in new sectors, including renewable energy, infrastructure, and healthcare,e are on the agenda.
Symbol of Friendship: Cheetah Translocation
One of the most symbolic gestures of India-Namibia friendship was the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia to India’s Kuno National Park in 2022. This historic intercontinental transfer marked the first such relocation of a major carnivore species and underscored the environmental and conservation collaboration between the two countries.
High-level visits and exchanges have sustained momentum in bilateral relations over the years. Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee paid a state visit to Namibia in 2016, while Namibia’s then-President Hage Geingob attended the India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi in 2015. PM Modi and President Geingob also met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in 2019, reinforcing mutual goodwill.
Development Assistance and Capacity Building
In June 2024, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Namibia, where he called on President Geingob and co-chaired the first Joint Commission Meeting. He also inaugurated the India-Namibia Centre for Excellence in Information Technology in Windhoek, reflecting India’s ongoing commitment to capacity-building in Africa.
India continues to extend development assistance to Namibia through scholarships, defence training programmes, and technical cooperation. Indian experts are deputed to key Namibian institutions, and since 1996, an Indian Air Force Technical Team has been training Namibian helicopter pilots, showcasing enduring defence cooperation.
Expanding Areas of Cooperation
The two countries are also exploring expanded cooperation in sectors such as mining, energy, health, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement between India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with Namibia playing a coordinating role, are in progress, promising to further boost trade ties.
Cultural ties have flourished as well. Regular cultural events, yoga sessions, and artistic exchanges have deepened people-to-people connections. Approximately 450 Indians, including NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), currently reside in Namibia, contributing to business and community initiatives through platforms like the India-Namibia Chamber of Commerce and the India-Namibia Friendship Association.
Strengthening India-Brazil Relations
Earlier in his tour, Prime Minister Modi visited Brazil, marking a step in bolstering India-Brazil relations. After concluding his engagements in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Summit, PM Modi arrived in the Brazilian capital, Brasília, where he was warmly received by Brazil’s Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro Filho.
During his State Visit to Brazil, PM Modi held bilateral discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. According to India’s Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia, both sides are expected to sign four key agreements covering cooperation in renewable energy, counterterrorism, agricultural research, and the protection of confidential information.
India and Brazil share a deep-rooted and multifaceted relationship, elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2006. Both countries collaborate closely in global forums such as BRICS, IBSA, G20, G-4, the International Solar Alliance, and the Global Biofuel Alliance. Their partnership is anchored in shared democratic values, a vision for a just global order, and the commitment to inclusive economic growth.
Cultural connections between India and Brazil date back to the Portuguese colonial era. Notably, Indian cattle breeds like Gir and Kankrej, exported to Brazil in the early 20th century, played a key role in Brazil’s thriving dairy industry. Brazilian popular culture has also embraced Indian influences, including through television series such as ‘Caminho das Indias’.
Diplomatic relations between India and Brazil were formally established in 1948, with embassies opening the same year. India’s embassy moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília in 1971, reflecting the deepening of diplomatic engagement.
In 2024-25, bilateral trade between India and Brazil reached USD 12.2 billion, with Indian exports totaling USD 6.77 billion and Brazilian exports to India at USD 5.43 billion. Major Indian exports include petroleum products, agro-chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods, while Brazil’s key exports to India include crude oil, soya oil, gold, raw sugar, and cotton.
Indian investments in Brazil have surpassed USD 6 billion, with companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra, Infosys, Wipro, and Sun Pharma operating in the country. Brazilian firms such as Vale, Stefanini, and WEG have also established a presence in India. This dynamic economic engagement reflects mutual confidence and expanding opportunities.
High-Level Visits and Parliamentary Exchanges
High-level visits have further cemented the relationship. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s visit to India in January 2020, where he served as the Chief Guest for Republic Day, led to the adoption of an Action Plan to strengthen the Strategic Partnership and the signing of 15 key agreements.
Parliamentary exchanges have also been vibrant. Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, led a delegation to the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brasília in June 2025, while other parliamentary delegations have engaged on issues such as counterterrorism and global governance.
The India-Brazil partnership extends to advanced sectors such as space cooperation, where India helped launch Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite in 2021. In the energy sector, Brazil is India’s largest upstream investment destination in the Americas, with Indian public sector units investing over USD 3.5 billion.
Health and traditional medicine form another pillar of collaboration. Ayurveda and Yoga are recognised under Brazil’s national policy on alternative medicine, and both countries are working together on health surveillance, technology transfer, and research.
Through these visits and strategic engagements, Prime Minister Modi’s ongoing tour highlights India’s expanding global footprint and its commitment to forging deeper partnerships with key nations across continents. The strengthening of ties with both Namibia and Brazil reflects India’s multifaceted diplomacy that blends historical solidarity, economic cooperation, and people-to-people connections.
Comments