Namibia urges China to invest in local value addition, not just resource extraction
via The Namibian1 min read
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Chinese investors to focus on value addition within Namibia, rather than solely extracting natural resources. Speaking at the Namibia-China Business Forum in Beijing, President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that Namibia will prioritize projects that create jobs and industrialize its economy. She stated that the country seeks partnerships for establishing processing plants, manufacturing industries, and technology transfer, moving away from the export of raw materials. The President highlighted that despite Namibia's mineral wealth, unemployment and poverty persist, making local beneficiation a government priority. She invited Chinese companies to invest in processing facilities, industrial ecosystems, and component manufacturing, aiming for Namibia to export value-added products. Opportunities were also noted in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, digital infrastructure, health, and skills development, positioning Namibia as a gateway to regional markets. President Nandi-Ndaitwah encouraged Namibian businesses to leverage China's zero-tariff access for African exports by increasing production and meeting international standards, inviting Chinese investors to manufacture, process, and innovate in Namibia for long-term partnerships.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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