EU-Namibia forum opens in Windhoek
More than 400 business leaders, policymakers, investors and innovators have gathered in Windhoek this week for the 2nd EU-Namibia Business Forum, a three-day event aimed at deepening trade ties and unlocking new investment opportunities between the European Union and Namibia.
Running from 11 to 13 May 2026, the forum is hosted by the EU Delegation in Namibia in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), under the theme "Towards stronger, greener and more diversified economies: Catalyzing Business and Trade Opportunities between the EU and Namibia."
The forum brings together senior representatives from the EU and Namibian private sectors alongside financing institutions and government officials, with sessions structured around panel discussions, roundtable dialogues, dedicated exhibitions and business-to-business and business-to-government matchmaking meetings.
Green industrialisation sits at the heart of the agenda, with sessions covering sustainable raw materials value chains, renewable hydrogen, agribusiness and automotive manufacturing. Namibia's cultural and creative industries will also feature as the forum seeks to broaden the base of trade and investment beyond the country's traditional extractive sectors.
Among the forum's stated objectives are strengthening the EU-Namibia strategic partnership, maximising opportunities arising from the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and exploring financing strategies for priority projects. Organisers said site visits to green hydrogen, mining and port projects are also planned, offering delegates direct exposure to Namibia's key economic assets.
The forum could also produce concrete outcomes, with organisers indicating that the signing of new EU-Namibia agreements is among the possibilities on the table.
The EU Business Fora series is part of the EU's Global Gateway initiative, which aims to mobilise investment in sustainable infrastructure and economic partnerships across developing markets.
