On the eve of the Global Gateway Forum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Namibian President Hage Geingob endorsed a strategic partnership roadmap between the EU and Namibia. This collaboration focuses on sustainable raw materials value chains and renewable hydrogen and is supported by a substantial €1 billion investment from the EU, its Member States, and European financial institutions. The partnership will also support a study for the development of the Port of Walvis Bay into a regional industrial and logistics hub.
Namibia’s abundant renewable energy potential places it at the forefront of the green hydrogen sector. The EU’s partnership with Namibia aims to drive green industrialization, decarbonize economies, create jobs, and promote a greener future.
The operational roadmap, spanning 2023 to 2025, outlines specific actions in alignment with the six pillars of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2022. These actions include integrating value chains, leveraging environmental, social, and governance criteria, mobilizing funding for infrastructure, capacity building, research and innovation cooperation, and regulatory alignment.
The EU will also support the development of the Port of Walvis Bay, making it a vital gateway for international trade in the Southern African Development Community region.
This partnership builds on Namibia’s commitment to a green transition and the EU’s efforts to secure a sustainable supply of critical raw materials, essential for green and clean energy objectives.
The Global Gateway Forum, where this announcement was made, seeks to promote global investment in infrastructure and sustainable growth. It aims to mobilize up to €300 billion in public and private investments to boost smart, clean, and secure connections and enhance the prosperity and security of partner nations and Europe.
