Namibia’s President, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has outlined her country’s strategy for youth empowerment, economic diversification, and global equity during a fireside chat at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
She highlighted Namibia’s youthful population, with over 70 percent under 35, as a key driver of future growth. “We are placing human capital at the centre of our development agenda,” she said, citing investments in education, digital access, and innovation.
As the country’s first female head of state, Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed the country’s commitment to gender equality, describing women’s leadership in government as “structural, not symbolic.”
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On the economy, she stressed the need to add value to Namibia’s oil, gas, green hydrogen, and critical minerals to boost jobs and technology transfer. She also hailed Namibia’s first AfCFTA export from Walvis Bay as a milestone for regional trade integration.
The president called for reforms of the international financial system, arguing that punitive lending rates and rigid conditions undermine development. “A fairer financial order must be a global priority,” she said.
She further urged partnerships with the United States in energy, minerals, and digital innovation, while emphasizing respect for Namibia’s sovereign development choices.
