Namibia and Sweden Focus on Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation. Namibia and Sweden have once again met to deepen their longstanding partnership, holding the tenth session of the Namibia-Sweden Bilateral Working Group in Windhoek. The meeting, which took place on Monday, was co-chaired by Jennely Matundu, Namibia’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Verna Sinimbo, Deputy Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, and Håkan Jevrell, State Secretary of Sweden’s Ministry for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.
The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including bilateral relations, regional cooperation, and global issues, with both sides expressing satisfaction with their strong and friendly ties. These relationships are built on shared historical, political, economic, and cultural foundations, with particular emphasis on trade, renewable energy, education, tourism, and mining
Sweden’s historical support for Namibia during its liberation struggle remains a cornerstone of their ongoing collaboration, and this legacy has evolved into a broad, multifaceted partnership. The groundwork for these continued discussions was laid during the 9th session of the Working Group in Stockholm in June 2019. At that time, both countries had focused on sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, and the importance of collaborative partnerships.
This year’s talks placed a strong emphasis on trade relations, with both nations exploring ways to diversify their economies and enhance trade capacities. Recognizing that sustainable growth is key to reducing poverty, they also discussed initiatives to promote the responsible use of natural resources, infrastructure development, and improved access to global markets.
Another key area of focus was renewable energy. Both Namibia and Sweden acknowledged the urgency of addressing climate change and expressed mutual interest in advancing sustainable energy solutions. This includes tapping into Namibia’s vast solar and wind resources to contribute to both environmental sustainability and economic development.
The session also explored educational cooperation, with discussions on academic exchanges and capacity-building programs to improve learning outcomes in both countries. Other sectors such as tourism, transport, environment, and information technology were also on the table, with both sides keen to leverage their shared expertise.
At the conclusion, Namibia and Sweden confirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation across various sectors. This collaboration aims to promote sustainable development, strengthen bilateral relations, and foster shared prosperity for both nations.
