Chinese province brings trade pitch to Windhoek

A delegation from China's Shandong Province has presented Namibia with a formal investment case spanning mining, clean energy, agriculture and medical technology, at a bilateral trade event in Windhoek on Thursday.

The matchmaking event was organised by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province and brought together Chinese and Namibian entrepreneurs and officials for what both sides described as a step towards turning recent diplomatic commitments into commercial agreements.

The visit followed talks in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Namibia's minister of international relations and cooperation, at which the two countries agreed to expand cooperation across new energy, oil and gas, mining, agriculture, science and technology, education, tourism and infrastructure.

Shandong, a coastal province on China's eastern seaboard, recorded a gross domestic product of 10.3 trillion yuan — roughly 1.5 trillion US dollars — in 2025, placing it among China's three largest provincial economies. Its population exceeds 100 million people.

Speaking at the event, the delegation's representative said Shandong's industrial base covered all 41 manufacturing categories recognised by the United Nations, and that its agricultural exports had led China nationally for 27 consecutive years. The province counts 236 Fortune Global 500 companies among its investors and has established sister-province and sister-city relationships with local governments in 109 countries.

Mining formed the centrepiece of the investment case. Shandong ranks first in China in both gold reserves and production, and the delegation said its geological exploration and development technologies were well suited to Namibia's resource sector. Shandong Gold Group, which already operates in Namibia, was cited as an example of the province's existing commercial footprint in the country.

Clean energy was presented as a second area of priority. Shandong is home to a national demonstration zone for green and low-carbon energy transition, with installed new energy capacity exceeding 130 million kilowatts. Officials said the province was prepared to cooperate with Namibia on green exploration and renewable energy development.

The delegation also included representatives from sectors less commonly associated with Chinese provincial investment in southern Africa. The Weihai Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry Association, food processing company Zhongyu Food, and Heze Urban Construction Group were among the entities expected to hold bilateral discussions with Namibian counterparts on the sidelines of the event.

On agriculture, officials said Shandong's improved crop varieties, farming techniques and processing technologies could support Namibia's agricultural development, and pointed to Namibia's access to China's zero-tariff trade policy as a commercial incentive for agro-processing investment.

The delegation called for the expansion of sister-city ties between Shandong municipalities and Namibian counterparts, building on the existing relationship between Windhoek and Jinan.

Shandong officials also announced plans to host a Shandong-Africa Cultural Carnival and a Shandong-Africa Good Governance Dialogue later this year, as part of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges, and invited Namibian participation in both events.