Namibia has rejected a role as a raw material supplier and is positioning itself to capture more value from its mineral resources by moving beyond raw exports into local processing and manufacturing.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the country’s mineral wealth — including lithium, rare earth elements, uranium, copper and graphite — places Namibia at the centre of the global green transition.
“These are materials essential for the global green transition. However, we do not accept to continue being mere suppliers of raw inputs for others’ prosperity. We are now seeking strategic investments in local processing, refining, and manufacturing in partnership with global actors,” she said during an recent engagement with students and faculty at the University of Pennsylvania.
Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed that the government’s objective is to ensure Namibia’s resources deliver benefits to its people as well as to export markets.
“The objective is clear; to ensure that the value of our resources benefits our people as it benefits export markets. Meaning, we will apply a fair sharing benefit between the Namibian economy and foreign investors,” she said.
She added that policies are being developed to integrate beneficiation into supply chains, promote technology transfer, and create employment for youth and women-owned enterprises in mining.
Namibia’s push for mineral value addition, she said, is not new but part of a long-standing effort to retain technology, create jobs and safeguard economic sovereignty.
“This is economic transformation with intent, and with tangible impact to the communities where such investments are located,” she said.
The President also underlined Namibia’s role in regional trade, highlighting opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area to expand value-added exports through regional trade corridors, ports and connectivity.
“Namibia is already leading in this endeavour as she has exported 45 tons of salt to Nigeria this year,” she said.
Calling for stronger global partnerships, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia aims to strengthen energy, mining and industrial capacity while advancing inclusive growth and regional trade.
She invited collaboration with academic institutions to support the country’s ambitions.
“We see American universities including the University of Pennsylvania as natural partners in our development journey. We invite you to engage with Namibian universities, youth innovators, and research institutions to co-create solutions that benefit both our nations,” she said.
