STAFF WRITER
The Bank of Namibia and the Deutsche Bundesbank have renewed their technical cooperation agreement after signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Technical Central Bank Cooperation last week.
The agreement was signed by the Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Ebson Uanguta, and Deutsche Bundesbank Executive Board Member, Lutz Lienenkämper, during Lienenkämper’s official visit to Namibia.
In a statement the apex bank said the MoU marks an important milestone in a partnership that has contributed significantly to strengthening technical expertise, professional development and institutional capacity across key areas of central banking.
The renewed MoU provides a framework for continued collaboration through technical assistance, specialised training, seminars, workshops, expert discussions and study visits.
It also creates opportunities for both institutions to deepen their engagement on emerging central banking priorities, ensuring that the partnership remains responsive to an increasingly complex and evolving financial landscape.
“The partnership between the Bank of Namibia and the Deutsche Bundesbank dates back to 2011, when the two institutions first formalised their cooperation. Subsequent renewals of the MoU in 2016 and 2022 have provided continuity and expanded opportunities for collaboration. Over the years, the relationship has evolved beyond high-level institutional engagements into a practical and results-oriented partnership, delivering meaningful benefits through technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and human-capital development,” the central bank said.
BoN said the admission of five Namibian students to the Deutsche Bundesbank University of Applied Sciences in Hachenburg, where they are receiving specialised academic and practical training in central banking is one of the tangible successes of the partnership.
“This initiative represents a significant investment in developing the next generation of central banking professionals and building the specialised expertise required to support Namibia’s evolving financial sector,” BoN said.
The central bank said the partnership also delivered tangible benefits through bilateral cooperation under the European System of Central Banking (ESCB) – Africa capacity-building programme, including expert missions, technical assistance and study visits in areas such as financial stability, macroprudential oversight, sustainability and, more recently, reserves management.
“The renewal of the MoU builds on more than a decade of substantive cooperation and reflects a shared commitment to translating international partnerships into lasting institutional value. As central banks navigate emerging challenges and opportunities, including technological innovation and evolving financial risks, the Bank of Namibia remains committed to drawing on international expertise, strengthening its human capital, and advancing its vision of becoming a knowledge-based central bank in support of a sound, resilient, and stable financial system,” BoN said.
In addition to the renewal of the MoU, Lienenkämper participated in a series of high-level engagements aimed at deepening institutional relations and fostering knowledge exchange.
These included discussions with the Bank of Namibia’s Management Committee, where he shared insights on central banking operations and institutional best practices, as well as courtesy engagements with the Minister of Finance, Honourable Ericah Shafudah, and the newly appointed German Ambassador to Namibia, Ambassador Thomas Wimmer.
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