Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, didn’t sleep late. A morning solar cut up the dry Namibian sky as an Indian Air Drive jet glided into Hosea Kutako Worldwide Airport. Out stepped Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Cameras whirred. Conventional dancers moved in rhythm. Within the crowd, diaspora voices rose like a homecoming hymn. A niche of 27 years closed with a single footstep.
Namibia’s Minister of Worldwide Relations and Commerce Selma Ashipala-Musavyi greeted him first. Then got here the grip of state – the handshake with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on the State Home. Formal smiles with heavy meanings had been exchanged, and a brand new web page started to show.
A Precious, Trusted African Companion
PM Modi didn’t converse in riddles. “Namibia is a priceless and trusted African companion,” he stated, standing beside the nation’s president. Then he listed the instructions forward – digital know-how, defence, safety, agriculture, healthcare, schooling and significant minerals. He was not studying prospects. He was studying plans.
Later, on X, he posted, “Discussions between India and Namibia had been held on cooperation in areas comparable to digital know-how, defence, safety, agriculture, healthcare, schooling and significant minerals.”
Landed in Windhoek a short time in the past. Namibia is a valued and trusted African companion with whom we search to spice up bilateral cooperation. Trying ahead to assembly President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and addressing the Namibian Parliament in the present day.@SWAPOPRESIDENT pic.twitter.com/ox6LEqHOba
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025
President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and I reviewed the complete vary of India-Namibia relations throughout our talks in the present day. Cooperation in areas comparable to digital know-how, defence, safety, agriculture, healthcare, schooling and significant minerals figured prominently in our… pic.twitter.com/PdpLFc2U29
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025
His message landed calmly however struck deeply. “Discussions additionally explored methods to spice up linkages in commerce, vitality and petrochemicals.”
Wreaths, Wars and Remembrance
The convoy curved as much as Heroes’ Acre. A white obelisk towered in opposition to the Auas Mountains. Beneath it, 174 burial plots rested – each a reputation etched into Namibia’s battle for freedom.
PM Modi laid a wreath in silence. Then he spoke with reverence. “I dedicate this honour to the folks of Namibia and India, their steady progress and growth and our unbreakable friendship.”
There was extra. “Our friendship was not born out of politics however out of wrestle, cooperation and mutual belief,” he declared.
A Civilian Honour and an Historic Plant
Namibia gave him greater than heat. It gave him its highest civilian award – The Order of the Most Historic Welwitschia Mirabilis. A ornament rooted in historical past and named after a desert plant that lives for a thousand years. The plant is a logo of survival.
PM Modi responded with humility. “Just like the powerful and stylish crops of Namibia, our friendship has stood the take a look at of time. And, similar to your nationwide plant, Welwitschia Mirabilis, it solely grows stronger with age and time.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian honour — ‘The Most Historic Order of Welwitschia Mirabilis’.#PMModiInNamibia @IndiainNamibia | #Namibia | #IndiaNamibiaRelations | @PMOIndia l @MEAIndia |… pic.twitter.com/cJfo9ATnCk
— All India Radio Information (@airnewsalerts) July 9, 2025
“It’s a witness to the eternal friendship between India and Namibia, and I really feel very proud to be related to it in the present day,” PM Modi stated.
#WATCH | The best civilian award of Namibia, the Order of the Most Historic Welwitschia Mirabilis conferred on PM Narendra Modi.
President of Namibia, Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, says, “By the ability vested in me by the Namibian Structure, I’ve the honour to confer the… pic.twitter.com/6OqczwPwOh
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
VIDEO | Namibia: Addressing a gathering, after being conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian honour —The Order of the Most Historic Welwitschia Mirabilis — by Namibian President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) says, “Namibia’s… pic.twitter.com/Tg5wIri1Fz
— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) July 9, 2025
PM honoured with Namibia’s Highest Award
Order of the Most Historic Welwitschia Mirabilis
twenty seventh award for PM Modi and 4th award on this ongoing tour. https://t.co/QlfFRJBnrr pic.twitter.com/4rwUCifmbK
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) July 9, 2025
Addressing the Joint Session of the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia. https://t.co/DvfaaKDYVX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025
‘We’re A part of the International South…’
At Namibia’s Parliament, he stood earlier than lawmakers – agency, open and grounded. He didn’t ship slogans. He delivered soul.
“It’s a nice privilege to handle this august home, a temple of democracy. I thanks for giving me this honour. I stand earlier than you as a consultant of the Mom of Democracy, and I convey with me heat greetings from 1.4 billion folks of India.”
Then got here the thread that tied them each. “India and Namibia have a lot in widespread. We each fought colonial rule. We each worth dignity and freedom. Our structure guides us to uphold equality, liberty and justice. We’re a part of the International South, and our folks share hope and goals.”
It was an honour to talk on India-Namibia friendship, our bond with Africa and India’s efforts for international good, throughout my deal with to the Namibian Parliament. pic.twitter.com/GQmB6CPDAX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025
He nodded towards Namibia’s second of delight: “Just a few months in the past, you celebrated a historic second – Namibia elected its first lady president. We perceive and share your delight and pleasure as a result of in India, we additionally proudly say Madam President.”
Interacted with MPs from Namibia after my deal with to their Parliament. Their positivity in the direction of India is clearly seen! pic.twitter.com/Bxa8pR6bey
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025
After which his voice turned private. “It’s the energy of the Structure of India that the daughter of a poor tribal household is the President of the world’s largest democracy, and it’s the energy of the identical Structure that gave an individual like me, born in a poor household, the chance to turn out to be prime minister thrice.”
The Cheetah That Roared Belief
This was not the primary signal of belief. Namibia had already despatched eight cheetahs to India’s Kuno Nationwide Park in 2022. A symbolic gesture. A residing one. It marked the primary intercontinental translocation of a serious carnivore species.
PM Modi didn’t overlook. He stated, “I specific gratitude for the help from Namibia in Mission Cheetah.”
‘Extraordinarily Pleased with Our Diaspora’
Within the resort courtyard, outdoors the formal halls, the vitality shifted. Diaspora households gathered. Kids waved flags. Seniors got here with portraits. There have been handshakes, tears and heat.
PM Modi didn’t maintain again his delight. “The Indian neighborhood in Namibia is extraordinarily optimistic about nearer India-Namibia friendship, and that is mirrored within the particular welcome in Windhoek. I’m extraordinarily happy with our diaspora, significantly how they’ve retained a reference to their tradition and traditions.”
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives ceremonial welcome and guard of honour at State Home in Windhoek.
The PM obtained a 21-gun salute on the ceremonial welcome in Namibia.
(Video: ANI/DD Information) pic.twitter.com/bqrot9ndUI
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025
The Indian neighborhood in Namibia is extraordinarily optimistic about nearer India-Namibia friendship and this mirrored within the particular welcome in Windhoek. I’m extraordinarily happy with our diaspora, significantly the way by which they’ve retained a join with their tradition and… pic.twitter.com/95eJSdA510
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2025
Offers Signed, Foundations Laid
Two MoUs had been exchanged throughout this go to. One to determine an Entrepreneurship Growth Centre in Namibia. One other on cooperation in well being and medication.
Namibia additionally joined the Coalition for Catastrophe Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the International Biofuels Alliance. Two signatures that sealed future footprints.
After which got here fintech. A UPI know-how licensing settlement – signed in April – will now assist Namibia launch its personal digital funds system by the tip of this yr.
A Race Beneath the Earth
This journey was not nearly paper and photo-ops. India got here to Namibia as a result of Namibia is wealthy the place it issues – beneath the bottom. Uranium. Oil. Copper. Diamonds. Uncommon earths. The world’s fourth-largest producer of uranium oxide. Reserves that now really feel like a golden ticket in a world shifting away from carbon.
India’s pursuits had been made crystal clear. “We’re occupied with uranium exports and exploring cooperation in oil and gasoline,” stated the prime minister.
The hunt started a long time in the past. However one thing modified after 2022. Discovery after discovery. Rhino Sources hit hydrocarbons on the Sagittarius 1-X properly. Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and TotalEnergies. All watching and circling.
Namibia’s exploration territory spans 230,000 sq. kilometres – twice that of Norway. And but, solely a handful of deep wells have been drilled. The Orange Basin is the place the story might explode subsequent. TotalEnergies will take huge calls by 2026. The subsequent 24 months matter greater than ever.
Namibia might be a part of the world’s high 10 oil producers by 2035. That’s not hypothesis however projection.
Historical past Behind, Hearth Forward
India and Namibia aren’t any strangers. India supported Namibia’s independence as early as 1946. Hosted SWAPO’s first abroad workplace in 1986. Helped construct the diplomatic bridges earlier than others confirmed up.
PM Modi remembered Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s founding president. “His august presence through the institution of the first-ever diplomatic mission of Namibia in New Delhi will at all times be cherished and fondly remembered by the folks of India.”
Commerce between the 2 nations touched $814 million in 2023-24. Indian exports made up the lion’s share. Investments from India now complete almost $800 million, largely in mining – zinc, diamonds and hope carved in rock.
There may be extra on the desk. A Preferential Commerce Settlement with the Southern African Customs Union is being labored out. Namibia is main it.
The Curtain Falls in Windhoek
This was the ultimate cease in a whirlwind five-nation tour – Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and now Namibia. However the ultimate act was not quiet. It was a crescendo.
PM Modi didn’t depart as only a visitor. He left as a companion. A recipient of honours. A builder of bridges. A pal who got here to not lecture, however to hear.
The desert winds carried greater than sand. They carried reminiscence. They carried motion. They carried a message. A handshake yesterday. A deal in the present day. A future carved in mud and sealed with fireplace.