The United States is stepping up efforts to secure investment opportunities in Namibia’s oil, critical minerals and infrastructure sectors, with US Ambassador John Giordano holding talks with international investors and business executives across three continents.
Giordano concluded a series of engagements in the United States, Singapore and South Africa aimed at attracting private capital, expanding trade and connecting American companies with investment opportunities in Namibia.
The discussions focused on Namibia’s emerging petroleum industry, critical mineral resources, infrastructure development and opportunities for American technology and engineering companies.
Speaking at African Energy Week in Cape Town, Giordano said Namibia would require substantial investment in infrastructure, technology and industrial development to transform its offshore oil discoveries into commercial production.
“The next era of energy will not belong to whoever finds the most oil. It will belong to those who connect resources to infrastructure, infrastructure to industry, and industry to opportunity,” he said.
Giordano also participated in S&P Global Energy’s CERAWeek Leadership Circle roundtable during African Mining Week and held meetings with executives from the energy, mining, engineering and infrastructure sectors in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The engagements explored opportunities for American companies to participate in the development of Namibia’s petroleum industry and related infrastructure.
In Washington, Giordano addressed the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Future of U.S.-Africa Minerals Diplomacy conference, where he called for a shift from diplomatic discussions to commercially viable investment agreements.
He identified Namibia’s critical minerals sector as an opportunity to strengthen international mineral supply chains and attract private investment into mining and industrial development.
The ambassador said the United States was pursuing a commercial diplomacy strategy focused on reciprocal trade, private investment and measurable economic outcomes.
In New York, Giordano joined President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and business leaders from Namibia and the United States at the U.S.–Namibia Presidential Roundtable, organised by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its U.S.-Africa Business Center.
The meeting focused on investment opportunities, infrastructure development and challenges affecting trade and investment between the two countries.
Giordano also held discussions with American corporate executives and Namibian government officials on expanding commercial cooperation.
“Trusted relationships, strong institutions, and sound commercial judgment are essential to connecting decision-makers across borders and translating strategic opportunities into tangible commercial results,” he said.
In Singapore, Giordano met international investors and business leaders at the Milken Institute summit, where discussions centred on financing opportunities in Africa’s energy, mining and infrastructure sectors.
He said combining American technology and expertise with Asian investment capital and African resources could support industrial development and strengthen global supply chains.
“American companies bring unmatched technology, expertise, and capability. Asia brings enormous pools of sophisticated capital. Africa offers extraordinary resources and opportunity,” Giordano said.
He also met representatives from the finance, technology, engineering and industrial sectors to explore potential commercial partnerships.
In Philadelphia, Giordano held discussions with business leaders on international investment opportunities and spoke to Forbes Africa about economic relations between the United States and Africa.
The engagements form part of the Trump administration’s push to use commercial diplomacy to expand market access for American companies and strengthen US economic interests.
Giordano said the priority was to translate investment discussions into commercial opportunities through cooperation between governments, businesses and investors.
The ambassador is expected to continue engaging Namibian stakeholders and American companies on investment opportunities in energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, technology and industrial development.
However, no specific investment agreements or financial commitments were announced following the engagements.
