Concluding Brazil Visit, PM Modi Embarks On Final Leg To Namibia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Namibia, the concluding stop on his five-nation journey, after wrapping up a significant state visit to Brazil and participating in the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro.

Taking to X, the PMO posted, “PM @narendramodi concludes a productive visit to Brazil and emplanes for Namibia.”

Echoing the sentiment, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted, “A memorable visit to Brazil concludes with a successful 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro & State visit in Brasilia. PM @narendramodi has emplaned for the last stop of his 5 country visit- Namibia.”

First Prime Ministerial visit to Namibia in 27 years

This will mark Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Namibia and is also the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 27 years.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi will likely meet Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the visit – their first meeting.

Officials describe the bilateral relationship as warm and longstanding, with India being regarded as a steadfast and dependable friend by the Namibian leadership and people.

A statement by the High Commission of India, Windhoek, Namibia, on its official website noted, “We have reciprocated fully, endeavouring to strengthen relations further.”

India has deep historical ties with Namibia, being one of the earliest nations to advocate for Namibian independence at the United Nations as early as 1946.

The first overseas office of SWAPO, Namibia’s liberation movement, set up in New Delhi in 1986.

India extended both diplomatic and material support during Namibia’s struggle, including military training and advocacy at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Indian Army officer Lt Gen Dewan Prem Chand notably led the UNTAG peacekeeping force that helped oversee Namibia’s transition to independence between 1989 and 1990.

Since independence, bilateral ties have grown steadily. The Indian Observer Mission in Windhoek became a High Commission on March 21, 1990.

Namibia, in turn, opened its diplomatic mission in New Delhi in 1994.

India’s humanitarian and development assistance

India has extended generous assistance to Namibia over the years.

This includes humanitarian aid like 30,000 doses of Covishield vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and food relief totalling thousands of tonnes of rice and maize to help combat drought and hunger in 2017, 2019, and most recently in December 2024.

In education and technology, the India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in IT (INCEIT) was established at the Namibia University of Science & Technology, complete with Indian-provided supercomputing resources.

Additionally, an India Wing set up at the Ongwediva campus of the University of Namibia with a $12 million Indian grant.

Under India’s Development Partnership initiatives, cooperation has extended to law enforcement and health infrastructure.

A forensic expert joined the Namibian Police Forensic Science Institute in 2022 under the ITEC programme.

Dozens of Namibian professionals, including military personnel, have travelled to India for training through ITEC and ICCR scholarship programmes.

With this visit, India and Namibia aim to deepen their longstanding friendship through renewed discussions and expanded cooperation, particularly in development, education, and humanitarian sectors.

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