Modi, President Ndaitwah hold talks: Namibia to roll out UPI

There was an announcement on the launch of a digital payments system in Namibia later this year as an outcome of the signing of the UPI technology licensing agreement between NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) and Bank of Namibia in April last year.

Following the talks between the two leaders, India and Namibia inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on setting up an Entrepreneurship Development Center in Namibia and another pact on cooperation in areas of health and medicine.

Namibia has also joined the India-backed CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure) and the Global Biofuels Alliance.

CDRI is dedicated to enhancing the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks. It includes national governments, international organizations, and the private sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah watch a performance by artistes during the former’s ceremonial welcome, in Windhoek, Namibia. (PTI via PMO)

During the delegation-level talks, the two leaders reviewed the full range of India-Namibia relations. After the meeting, PM Modi said in a post on social media: “Cooperation in areas such as digital technology, defence, security, agriculture, healthcare, education and critical minerals figured prominently in our discussions.”

“We also discussed how to boost linkages in trade, energy and petrochemicals. Expressed gratitude for the assistance from Namibia in Project Cheetah,” he said. Modi, who is visiting at the invitation of President Nandi-Ndaitwah, has described Namibia as a “valued and trusted partner” in Africa.

After the talks at the State House, the two sides signed four agreements, including cooperation in the field of health and medicine, setting up an entrepreneurship development centre in Namibia, the CDRI Framework and the Global Biofuels Alliance Framework.

This is the first visit of PM Modi to Namibia and the third-ever by an Indian PM to the country.

Modi, who arrived from Brazil on the final leg of his five-nation tour, also paid tribute to Namibia’s founding father Sam Nujoma at the Heroes’ Acre memorial. Nujoma led Namibia to independence in 1990 and served as its first President for 15 years. The PM remembered Nujoma as a visionary leader who devoted his life to the struggle for Namibia’s independence.

PM Modi was also conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian award, the ‘Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’.

Addressing a gathering, the PM said, “Namibia’s Welwitschia, after which this award is named, is not an ordinary plant. It is like an elder in the household, one who has witnessed the passage of time. It symbolises Namibia’s struggle, courage, and culture.”