Namibian businesses tap German expertise for green growth
A Namibia-Germany Enterprise and Supplier Development Mission has connected Namibian businesses and training institutions with more than 50 German companies and organisations, with a focus on local supplier development, technical training and renewable energy.
The seven-day mission, organised as part of Hyphen Hydrogen Energy's Enterprise and Supplier Development programme, brought together a 16-member delegation, including 13 representatives from Namibian businesses, industry bodies and technical and vocational education and training institutions, alongside representatives from Hyphen and GIZ.
The delegation visited Hamburg and Stuttgart, where it took part in business-to-business meetings, technical workshops, industry forums and site visits.
The mission forms part of an implementation framework established through a memorandum of understanding between Hyphen, Afrika-Verein der Deutschen Wirtschaft and Baden-Württemberg International. It was supported by GIZ and ENERTRAG.
Discussions focused on supplier qualification, procurement readiness, health and safety systems, technical mentorship, apprenticeships, instructor development, industrial automation, renewable energy, fabrication, welding, logistics and equipment training.
German organisations engaged included Fraunhofer IWES, STILL, Stadtwerke Stuttgart, Murrelektronik, Siemens Energy, the International Institute of Welding and other industry and training bodies.
Toni Beukes, Hyphen's head of environment, social and governance, said the mission was aimed at developing practical partnerships.
“The scale of Namibia's green industrial ambitions requires partnerships that strengthen local enterprises, prepare our workforce and connect Namibian suppliers to international technical standards and markets,” Beukes said.
The delegation also examined Germany's apprenticeship and master craftsman systems, including three-year work-integrated training. German institutions expressed interest in supporting the phased adaptation of these approaches in Namibia and possible trainee exchanges.
Technical discussions also identified opportunities in wind energy, hydrogen, electric and hydrogen forklift training, industrial automation and renewable energy integration.
One memorandum of understanding is being finalised, while four further programmes are under discussion. These cover enterprise partnerships, technical training, supplier development and renewable energy cooperation.
Johannes Shipepe, Hyphen's senior economic development manager for local content, said the focus would now be on turning the contacts into practical projects. “Our priority now is to translate these engagements into supplier assessments, technical workshops, training partnerships and market-entry arrangements with clear responsibilities and timelines,” he said.
Reciprocal German missions to Namibia are anticipated in September and November, subject to confirmation.
Hyphen said the mission could also contribute to a longer-term Namibia-Germany platform supporting supplier development, technical mentorship, workforce training and greater local participation in renewable energy and industrial value chains.
