WINDHOEK (Namibia), June 6:
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that time has come for countries like India and Namibia to work together to cooperate on the global stage amid a “very challenging” international situation created by factors like debt crises with high-interest rates and tense geopolitical situations.
His remarks came as he along with Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah concluded the 1st India-Namibia Joint Commission meeting here in the Namibian capital.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the roadmap of a growing bilateral partnership that covers the domains of energy, infrastructure, wildlife conservation, trade and Investment, food security, digital, capacity building, health, defence and arts, culture, heritage and people-to-people linkages.
“Pleased to conclude the 1st India-Namibia Joint Commission of cooperation and sign its minutes,” Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.
He said Namibia occupies a very special place in the hearts and minds of Indians.
“And that is because we supported Namibia’s independence and we were very pleased to see Namibia take its rightful place in the comity of nations and become a proud upholder of international order,” he said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
“So, as you celebrate 33 years of your independence, I must tell you that we share your pride and we applaud your progress, your success and we take equal satisfaction,” he added.
He said as the two nations meet, they cannot be oblivious to the world and the challenges that the international order is facing in different respects.
He said these challenges impact the lives of our people, and the Global South has been a particular victim, of what has been happening in the world for the last 3 or 4 years.
“The health, economic and social challenges posed by the post-pandemic combined with the debt crises with high-interest rates, tensed geopolitical situations, besides the ecological, economic and social costs of climate change. I think these have all combined today to really create a very challenging international situation,” he said.
“So this is a time, of course for countries like us to work together, to think together, to cooperate on the international stage,” he said, adding that is best done by forging a strong bilateral partnership.
He expressed hope that the Joint Commission would live up to that responsibility, and would become a platform for ideas, innovations, for exchanges of skills and technologies.
“And we will see in a range of areas like pharmaceuticals and health; green and clean energy; because we too are increasingly getting involved in green hydrogen; in the digital era,” he said.
And this process of high-level visits and constant dialogue, which is backed up by a platform, will surely help the two nations to navigate our partnership, bettered in times to come, the minister said. “Our ties are forged in our developmental cooperation, in our capacity-building programmes and in our political solidarity. And it is important, that together we grow, develop and prosper,” Jaishankar said. (PTI)
“Our cooperation in recent years has particularly seen a pick up on the economic side, there has been a very significant increase in trade, your visit ( Nandi-Ndaitwah’s) to India last July, I think was very important in energising our ties, three important agreements were signed,” he said. The immediate and tangible outcome of that visit was the trans-location of cheetahs from Namibia to India, he said. (PTI)
“This, in fact, is a very big step, because it is the first programme for the re-introduction of a large carnivore anywhere in the world. So it has wildlife and environmental implications, but it also has a direct contribution to make to the growth of tourism. And I certainly hope that our cooperation in these areas will continue to grow,” Jaishankar said. (PTI)
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