Namibia to host Shandong business forum
The Namibian government is set to host a business forum with a delegation from China's Shandong Province as the two countries seek to strengthen trade and investment ties.
The Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT), with support from the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), will host the event on Friday 22 May 2026 at the Windhoek Country Club.
The forum will bring together Namibian and Chinese government officials, as well as private sector representatives, for policy dialogue, business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings, and investment matchmaking.
Key sectors to be highlighted include energy, mining and mineral beneficiation, health and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and agro-processing.
China has long been Namibia's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately US$1.85bn in 2025, according to China's ministry of foreign affairs, with trade up 35.7% in the same period.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in March 1990, shortly after Namibia gained independence.
Previous Namibia-China business forums have sought to translate strong political relations into concrete economic cooperation.
In 2011, a business forum in Windhoek attracted dozens of Chinese companies interested in opportunities across a range of sectors.
More recent high-level engagements, including meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), have focused on moving beyond raw material exports towards greater value addition, increased local procurement, and more diversified partnerships.
The latest forum with the Shandong delegation reflects ongoing efforts to expand provincial-level engagement alongside broader national ties.
Shandong, a coastal province in eastern China with strengths in industry, agriculture and manufacturing, is sending a delegation of government officials and business leaders.
