I am delighted to welcome His Excellency President Pohamba and his delegation to India. This is President Pohamba’s first visit to India, and the first State visit to India in the second term of our Government.
Our relations with Namibia have strong historical roots, which predate Namibia’s independence. They are warm, cooperative and based on profound understanding of each other’s aspirations.
I have had detailed and forward-looking discussions with President Pohamba. We reviewed the current state of our relations and have set out the roadmap for the future. We have decided to inject fresh dynamism in our cooperation in areas such as human resource
development, capacity building, trade and economic exchanges, agriculture, transportation, defence, information technology, health, energy and mining.
I renewed India’s commitment to cooperate with Namibia within our capacities and capabilities in its economic, social, human and infrastructure development. I conveyed to the President that India stands ready to share its experience with Namibia as it implements
its ambitious ‘Vision 2030’ policy document.
Our partnership with Namibia is an important component of our desire to revitalize our historical and civilizational ties with Africa in keeping with the requirements of the twenty first century. We will work with Namibia to implement the outcomes jointly arrived
at the India-Africa Forum Summit held in Delhi in April, 2008.
Finally, I would like to pay a tribute to the vision and enlightened leadership of President Pohamba as he leads his great country towards a better future. I applaud his vision for strengthening India-Namibia friendship.
Based on our discussions and identity of views on major regional and international issues, and the bilateral agreements that have been signed, I have no hesitation to say that his visit constitutes a new milestone in our longstanding relations.
New Delhi
31 August 2009