Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has invited Chinese investors to back a sweeping economic overhaul, pitching major partnerships in mining, agriculture, renewable energy, logistics, and infrastructure as the southwest African nation attempts to end its reliance on unrefined raw material exports.

Speaking at a business forum in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, Nandi-Ndaitwah declared that Namibia is positioning itself for a structural pivot toward value addition and domestic industrialization. The pitch comes as part of her official state visit to China, signaling Windhoek’s intent to reshape its trade dynamic with its second-largest export market.

“Namibia is open for trade and investment and ready to deepen its long-standing economic and political ties with China through practical partnerships,” Nandi-Ndaitwah told attendees.

The choice of location for the investment drive was highly strategic. Guangdong Province, an industrial powerhouse and the bedrock of China’s technology and innovation landscape, serves as an operational model for Namibia’s downstream economic ambitions.

The President emphasized that the province offers both structural blueprints and lucrative corporate opportunities for Chinese businesses looking to expand their manufacturing footprint into southern Africa. Historical links between Guangdong and Namibia should be strengthened to catalyze this next phase of development, she added.

Windhoek’s push reflects a growing trend across resource-rich African nations to secure local processing capabilities, ensuring that domestic economies capture a higher share of profits rather than shipping unprocessed commodities abroad.