Also known as: MIRT
Namibia's government ministry handling diplomatic relations, trade negotiations, and consular affairs including bilateral agreements and citizen welfare matters.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
New Era
Ministry of International Relations and Trade supports TalentsBridge Namibia project
“The project is supported by key institutions, including the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts & Culture, and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB).”
Namibia, Germany launch TalentsBridgeThe Namibian
Ministry of International Relations and Trade called for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East
“In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of International Relations and Trade said it has noted with grave concern the escalation of tensions resulting from the military actions carried out on Saturday.”
Namibia calls for urgent de-escalation after deadly Middle East strikesInformanté
Ministry of International Relations and Trade organised the memorial service for Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson
“The memorial service, organised by the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, brought together President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, United States Ambassador to Namibia John Giordano, members of the Diplomatic Corps, government officials and political leaders honour the life and legacy of one of the world's most influential voices for human rights.”
Namibia honours Reverend Jesse Jackson’s legacy of solidarity and justiceInformanté
Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi made remarks at the launch of the report on value addition and diversification within the critical energy transition mineral value chain
“The minister made these remarks at the recent launch of the report on the "Rapid Assessment of Value Addition and Diversification within and beyond the Critical Energy Transition Mineral Value Chain".”
Namibia launches value addition and diversification report to chart path to sustainable industrialisationInformanté
Ministry of International Relations explained the JPCC will review bilateral cooperation and consider finalisation of pending Memoranda of Understanding
“"The JPCC will review bilateral cooperation and consider the finalisation of pending Memoranda of Understanding, focusing on diplomacy and security, economic cooperation, and social sectors," the Ministry of International Relations explained.”
Namibia and Congo prepare to strengthen cooperation at Namibia-Congo JPCCNew Era
Ministry of International Relations and Trade stated that government cannot and should not dictate what exporters trade
“In this regard, when the Ministry of International Relations and Trade last week stated that the government cannot and should not dictate what exporters trade, they were 100% correct.”
Business Editorial – Preferential access to Africa’s free trade not a strategyNew Era
Ministry of International Relations and Trade emphasized that government cannot determine products exporters should trade within continent
“The Ministry of International Relations and Trade has emphasised that neither the government nor the ministry can determine the products that exporters should trade within the continent.”
Govt not arbiter of AfCFTA goods, servicesThe Namibian
Ministry of International Relations and Trade developed the guide with support from United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
“The guide was developed with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”
Namibia develops guide forAfCFTA tradeNew Era
Ministry of International Relations and Trade reflects shift toward economic diplomacy through renaming
“The President noted that this shift is reflected in the renaming of the ministry to the Ministry of International Relations and Trade.”
NNN amplifies economic diplomacyInformanté
Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) jointly organised the Validation Workshop for the Step-by-Step Guide for Trading in Goods under the AfCFTA
“It is jointly organised by MIRT, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) through its Subregional Office for Southern Africa and the Africa Trade Policy Centre.”
Namibia fast-tracks AfCFTA implementation with trade guide validation workshopThe Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has launched a new employment permit valid for up to five years, effective immediately, to make Namibia more attractive to investors and improve the investment climate by reducing administrative barriers.
5 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has launched a new employment permit valid for up to five years, effective immediately, to make Namibia more attractive to investors and improve the investment climate by reducing administrative barriers.
5 September 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia and the United States announced a planned, phased reduction of US financial assistance for Namibia's HIV-AIDS response, with US support to transition over the next year from financial assistance to a technical cooperation model. This follows Namibia's achievement of HIV-AIDS epidemic control and surpassing of global targets, including reaching 96-98-98 and exceeding the UNAIDS 95-95-95 fast-track targets.
4 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's government reaffirmed its support for lifting the US embargo on Cuba but clarified that N$700 000 raised by Namibia-Cuba solidarity groups is a private initiative, not a government contribution. The Ministry of International Relations and Trade encouraged citizens to support the fundraising campaign while maintaining Namibia's advocacy for Cuba on bilateral, regional and multilateral platforms.
2 September 2026 · The Namibian →
An analysis argues that despite decades of political talk about beneficiation, value addition, and manufacturing, Namibia remains dependent on primary commodities and has failed to assemble scattered industrial activity into a coherent industrial economy, requiring instead a reimagined industrial policy linking resources, finance, energy, trade, procurement, skills and markets.
28 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Minister Sanet Steenkamp apologised for delays in returning Namibian ancestral and mortal remains from South Africa, citing circumstances beyond the ministry's control that affected flight arrangements. Namibia received the remains of two former political prisoners and the ancestral remains of 84 people, along with casts and cultural heritage materials.
21 August 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's participation in the 2025 UN General Assembly generated several investment opportunities including a proposed Windhoek convention centre and energy and water projects, though a uranium-processing plant was eventually cancelled due to government approval delays. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's September visit to the United States included a major business component, with a business delegation of 35 delegates from 26 organisations representing sectors including renewable energy, agriculture, mining, and tourism.
18 August 2026 · New Era →
Namibia and other SACU member states have signed Terms of Reference for formal negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement with India, establishing a framework to expand trade and investment opportunities. India's Commerce Minister said the agreement could support the region through medicine supply, IT skills development, and integration into global supply chains across sectors including pharmaceuticals, textiles, and agriculture.
14 August 2026 · Informanté →
Following the fourth India–Namibia Joint Trade Committee session in New Delhi, the two countries agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation, focusing on value addition, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, services and digitalisation. Bilateral merchandise trade reached US$592.94 million in 2025/26, and the countries committed to strengthening cooperation on lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements.
14 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of International Relations and Trade has confirmed that Namibian citizen Nguvi Mberirua, reported missing in London after a video of her appearing disoriented on a London underground train went viral, has been found and is in contact with her family. The ministry declined to disclose further details regarding her circumstances, citing privacy and welfare considerations.
13 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of International Relations and Trade confirmed that no Namibian national is currently reported killed or injured in Monday's bus crash in Angola's Cuanza Sul province that claimed 22 lives. The Namibian embassy in Luanda contacted the transport company and found no confirmed Namibian passengers, though unconfirmed reports had surfaced of several Namibians on board.
6 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The family of Namibian Nguvi Mberirua, who went viral on TikTok after appearing disoriented on a London metro train, says they are hoping for her safe return as efforts to locate her continue. The Namibian Ministry of International Relations and Trade is working to establish her last known location and assist her.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Meat Corporation of Namibia fully used its 2026 Norwegian beef export quota by the end of June and secured an additional 344,766kg through a government-to-government arrangement with Botswana under the Sacu-Efta quota-sharing framework, expected to generate approximately N$100 million. Combined with the original allocation's estimated N$265 million, Meatco's Norwegian beef exports for 2026 are valued at approximately N$365 million.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Ambassador Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus has been appointed Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, effective 25 July 2026, becoming the second most senior official at the international body responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention across 193 member states.
28 July 2026 · New Era →
Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, a former ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, has been appointed deputy director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the second most senior position in the international body.
27 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's ministry of international relations and trade has appointed ambassador Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus as deputy director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, assuming office on 25 July 2026. Kaapanda-Girnus, who brings more than seventeen years of diplomacy experience and previously served as Namibia's ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, becomes the second most senior official of the OPCW.
27 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The government is progressing on a draft international trade management bill to establish an International Trade Management Commission that will oversee trade remedies, tariff investigations, and import-export controls. A separate investment promotion and facilitation bill, which completed public consultations between December 2025 and January 2026, is being prepared for parliament to create a more transparent investment process.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has invited Namibian businesses and companies with investment-ready projects to participate in an upcoming Namibia–Türkiye Trade Mission aimed at strengthening trade and investment links. The mission will bring together local companies and Turkish trade and investment delegates for business-to-business and business-to-government engagements in renewable energy, textiles, fisheries, infrastructure, education, water purification, automotive, and tourism sectors.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has invited Namibian businesses with investment-ready projects to participate in a Namibia–Türkiye Trade Mission in Windhoek, coordinated with Turkish trade and investment delegations for B2B and B2G engagements across renewable energy, textiles, fisheries, infrastructure, education, water purification, automotive, and tourism sectors.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed Christine ||Hoëbes as Namibia's new High Commissioner to Malaysia, directing her to pursue economic diplomacy focused on technology transfer, investment, and new markets for Namibian products, leveraging Malaysia's digital innovation strength.
16 July 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah pledged to accelerate government investment in sports infrastructure across all 14 regions and handed the national flag to Team Namibia ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The government has identified 28 sites for construction and upgrading of sports facilities as part of elevating sport to a top development priority.
16 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will co-chair the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Pretoria on 17 July 2026, with discussions focused on trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and regional cooperation. The BNC serves as the highest permanent bilateral cooperation mechanism between the two countries, supported by more than 150 agreements covering political, diplomatic, economic, social, defence and security cooperation.
16 July 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has commissioned Christine //Hoebes as Namibia's High Commissioner-designate to Malaysia, tasking her with strengthening bilateral relations, promoting economic diplomacy and advancing Namibia's development priorities. The President highlighted opportunities for further cooperation in renewable energy, oil and gas services, logistics, ports development, green industrialisation and tourism.
15 July 2026 · Informanté →
A Namibian delegation has begun a five-day mission to South Africa to arrange the exhumation and repatriation of two former Robben Island prisoners buried in Cape Town. The delegation, which includes traditional authorities, former prisoners, family members, and government officials, is meeting South African counterparts to discuss legal, cultural, technical and logistical arrangements.
12 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Vasilije Boskovic, who served as Namibia's honorary consul to Serbia from 2002 to 2024, has died aged 85. The Ministry of International Relations and Trade credited him with strengthening diplomatic ties between the two countries and helping establish the Engineering Council of Namibia, with a relationship spanning over 60 years.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
More than 100 Namibians living in South Africa are voluntarily seeking repatriation to Namibia amid rising xenophobic tensions; Namibian authorities are arranging repatriation and verification processes following reports of attacks on foreign nationals.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A Namibian-registered bus was hijacked in Johannesburg on 9 June, leaving passengers stranded; the Independent Patriots for Change accused the government and High Commission in Pretoria of failing to provide meaningful assistance to the operator and passengers, some of whom had to pay for their own accommodation.
14 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has urged its citizens in South Africa to remain vigilant and seek consular assistance amid reports of anti-migrant unrest and xenophobic attacks, though the Ministry of International Relations and Trade has not received reports of Namibian nationals being affected.
3 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The US State Department is reportedly cutting visa-issuing consulates and embassies on the African continent, including Namibia's, according to the Associated Press. The closest remaining visa-processing hubs would be South Africa's consulates in Cape Town and Johannesburg, or Angola's Luanda consulate.
3 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Ministry of International Relations and Trade, alongside the NIPDB and NTF, is participating in the 3rd Invest in Africa 2026 Trade Expo in Swakopmund (28–30 May) to advance continental economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area. The summit aims to develop practical approaches to the AfCFTA framework while promoting trade, investment, and industrial growth across the continent, with Minister Ashipala-Musavyi highlighting that intra-African trade currently stands at about 16% and calling for deeper regional integration.
31 May 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia will hold a trade mission and business forums alongside President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's State Visit to China from 6 to 10 July 2026, focusing on agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, energy, and other strategic sectors. Businesses are invited to register for a NIPDB webinar on exporting to China under its zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries.
31 May 2026 · Informanté →