【Windhoek, Na】Ashipla-Musavyi Invites UAE to Invest in Namibia’s Diamond Industry

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Editor’s Note

This article highlights Namibia’s strategic push to attract foreign investment into its diamond sector, specifically inviting UAE partners to collaborate on value-added processing before export.

Minister Extends Investment Invitation

The Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipla-Musavyi, has encouraged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to consider investing in Namibia’s diamond cutting and polishing industry.

“We invite the UAE to explore investment in Namibia’s diamond cutting and polishing industry, and also to form joint ventures to increase value addition before exports,” the minister said.

She made these remarks during a recent meeting with Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, at the Namibia–UAE High-Level Business Forum in Windhoek. The meeting formed part of Dr Al Zeyoudi’s one-day working visit to Namibia, during which he was accompanied by a high-level business delegation representing a diverse range of sectors.

Potential for Deeper Cooperation

Ashipla-Musavyi noted that while diamonds are already a major export to the UAE, there remains potential for deeper cooperation in the diamond cutting and polishing sector, as well as in gold. However, she acknowledged that Namibia already has an impressive bilateral trade record with the UAE, which could be further expanded.

“Let me now turn on bilateral trade. The trade statistics between our two countries show that Namibia’s main export to UAE is comprised of diamonds, scrap metal, charcoal, precious stones, frozen fish, grapes, dates, while Namibia imports products such as Petroleum oil, Sulphur, Fertilizer, machine tools, pastry, auto parts, tubes and pipes from the UAE, to name but a few. While diamond and gold has greatest export potential to UAE, Namibia’s export diversification are lentils, dried & shelled, lamb cuts bone in, frozen and jewellery of precious metal,” the minister highlighted.
Expanding Agricultural and Economic Ties

She also revealed that Namibia is keen to expand agricultural exports such as beef and other meat products to the UAE and seeks collaboration in agro-processing, irrigation technology, and food value chains.
She added that Namibia intends to deepen collaboration with the UAE overall, with the aim of establishing a Joint Economic Commission.

“As countries of the Global South, Namibia wishes to tap into technology and skills transfer, to support our industrialization and manufacturing capacity. Namibia wishes to forge a deeper collaboration with UAE by establishing a Joint Economic Commission,” Ashipla-Musavyi added.
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⏰ Published on: February 19, 2026