Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 9 received a grand ceremonial welcome in Namibia, including a 21-gun salute, as he began his first-ever official visit to the African nation. Arriving from Brazil on the concluding leg of his five-nation tour, PM Modi held high-level talks with Namibian President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and witnessed the signing of four crucial bilateral agreements.
This visit marks the third-ever by an Indian Prime Minister to Namibia and the first by Modi. He was welcomed at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport with traditional music and dance, and warmly received by Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi. In a heartfelt gesture that drew applause, Modi joined the local performers and played traditional Namibian drums, reflecting his embrace of local culture.
President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and I reviewed the full range of India-Namibia relations during our talks today. Cooperation in areas such as digital technology, defence, security, agriculture, healthcare, education and critical minerals figured prominently in our… pic.twitter.com/PdpLFc2U29
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025
Shortly after arrival, PM Modi expressed his enthusiasm for the visit, posting on social media platform X: “Landed in Windhoek a short while ago. Namibia is a valued and trusted African partner with whom we seek to boost bilateral cooperation.”
Later in the day, PM Modi held one-on-one and delegation-level talks with President Nandi-Ndaitwah at the State House in Windhoek. This was followed by the signing of four agreements in the presence of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. The agreements cover cooperation in health and medicine, the establishment of an entrepreneurship development centre in Namibia, a framework under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and a framework for the Global Biofuels Alliance.
“Our discussions covered a broad range of areas including digital technology, defence, security, agriculture, healthcare, education and critical minerals,” Modi said in a post after the meeting. He also highlighted potential for deepening linkages in trade, energy, and petrochemicals.
The Indian community in Namibia is extremely optimistic about closer India-Namibia friendship and this reflected in the special welcome in Windhoek. I am extremely proud of our diaspora, particularly the manner in which they have retained a connect with their culture and… pic.twitter.com/95eJSdA510
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025
One of the significant aspects of the dialogue was the continued collaboration under Project Cheetah. Modi thanked Namibia for its support in the relocation of cheetahs to India. “The number of cheetahs in India has increased to 12 from eight, thanks to Namibia’s cooperation,” he said, inviting further support for Phase 2 of the initiative.
In a landmark moment during the visit, Prime Minister Modi was conferred Namibia’s highest civilian honour, ‘The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’, by President Nandi-Ndaitwah. The President noted Modi’s significant contributions to socio-economic development and global peace, stating, “By the power vested in me by the Namibian Constitution, I have the honour to confer the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis to Narendra Modi, PM of India.”
Expressing his gratitude, Modi said, “It is a matter of pride for me to be conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian honour. I thank the President, the Namibian government, and the people of Namibia. I accept this on behalf of 140 crore Indians.” This becomes the 27th international honour Modi has received and the fourth during his ongoing tour.
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi receives Namibia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis.
The prestigious award was conferred by Namibian President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, recognising PM Modi’s efforts in strengthening India-Namibia ties. pic.twitter.com/U8MJTHYemi
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) July 9, 2025
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister also paid homage to Dr Sam Nujoma, the founding President of Namibia, underscoring the historic ties between the two nations.
The Indian diaspora in Namibia turned out in large numbers to greet Modi, reflecting the warmth and optimism they feel toward India-Namibia relations. “I am extremely proud of our diaspora, particularly the manner in which they have retained a connect with their culture and traditions,” Modi said.
The visit is expected to give a significant boost to India’s engagement with Africa, especially in sectors like health, energy, and digital cooperation.
