Pretoria: Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi says Namibia and South Africa's economic relationship extends beyond trade, describing it as a deeply integrated industrial ecosystem that is vital for regional stability.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Ashipala-Musavyi made the remarks during the fourth session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Pretoria on Thursday, where she highlighted the scale of economic ties between the two countries, with bilateral trade reaching approximately N$86 billion in 2025.
"Our bilateral trade figures highlight the importance of convening the BNC at the highest level, as the economies of Namibia and South Africa are deeply intertwined. Total trade between our two countries reached approximately N$86 billion in 2025," she said. She noted, however, that trade between the two countries remains imbalanced.
Namibia exported goods worth N$29.21 billion to South Africa in 2025, while imports from its southern neighbour amounted to N$57.84 billion. Namibia's main exports included precious and semi-precious stones and metals, ores and slag, fish, and live animals, while imports from South Africa consisted largely of vehicles, machinery, electrical equipment, and pharmaceuticals.
Ashipala-Musavyi said the trade figures underscore the need to strengthen industrial cooperation between the two countries. "Statistics of this kind are a call to action. The establishment of a South Africa-Namibia Business Council, as directed by the Third Session of our Bi-National Commission, is thus an imperative," she said.
She said Namibia views the proposed business council as a practical mechanism to facilitate private investment, joint ventures, and industrial partnerships, moving the bilateral relationship beyond trade statistics towards greater productive collaboration. According to the minister, the persistent trade deficit reflects differences in the industrial capacities of the two economies and highlights the need to expand Namibia's productive base.
She also stressed that the close movement of people between the two countries requires careful management as it reflects their shared future and interconnected development. "Our continued collaboration is therefore critical to the realisation of their developmental aspirations and our collective duty to promote lasting security, prosperity, and economic stability for the benefit of both our nations," she said.
Ashipala-Musavyi said the success of the Namibia-South Africa partnership should ultimately be measured by the tangible opportunities it creates for citizens rather than the number of agreements concluded. Since Namibia's independence in 1990, the two countries have concluded more than 150 bilateral agreements covering trade, security, energy, water, health, education, and culture, providing the legal framework for continued cooperation.