STAFF WRITER
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, will co-chair the Summit of the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Pretoria on Friday with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
A statement released by the Presidency the summit will conclude a week of engagements between the two Governments’.
The Bi -National Commission started with a Senior Officials’ Session on 14 and 15 July 2026, followed by a Ministerial Session on 16 July 2026, co-chaired by Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, and her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola.
“Key Areas of Discussion Trade, Investment and Economic Integration Border Management and Boundary Matters Infrastructure, Energy and Connectivity, Disaster Management and Humanitarian Cooperation Defence, Security and Transnational Challenges Regional, Continental and Global Issues,” the Presidency said.
The Bi-National Commission is the highest permanent mechanism of cooperation through which Namibia and South Africa review and enhance their existing bilateral relations and cooperation.
The Presidency said the bilateral relationship that exists between Namibia and South Africa is supported by more than 150 bilateral agreements covering a wide range of sectors, including Political, Diplomatic, Legal, Economic, Social, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Namibia and South Africa are expected to sign a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding during this Session, reflecting the practical scope of cooperation between the two countries.
The two countries will also host a South Africa Namibia Business Forum under the theme: “Driving Regional Industrialisation, Investment and Sustainable Growth through Strategic South Africa Namibia Partnerships.”
The Presidency said the Forum will serve as a platform to bring together government representatives, business leaders, investors, and industry stakeholders strengthening commercial partnerships, private sector participation in the bilateral relationship, showcase investment opportunities, and advance bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
It will furthermore promote business-to-business partnerships, support regional value chain development, and contribute to the broader objectives of economic growth, job creation, and regional integration.
The Business Forum is hosted in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) Republic of South Africa, Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) Republic of Namibia, Namibia Investment Promotion Development Board (NIPDB) and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).
Namibia and South Africa enjoy a strong and mutually beneficial economic relationship, making them among each other’s most important trading partners in both exports and imports. Both countries are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with the latter playing a pivotal role in promoting regional industrialisation, economic integration, and sustainable development among its member states.
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