Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, Windhoek, 16 June 2025
Good morning, and a warm welcome to chilly Windhoek,
It is with a deep sense of gratitude and a privilege to open this meeting here in our capital city Windhoek, with colleagues and friends from across the Commonwealth. Allow me to say Mweuyapoo!
Hosting this important meeting that precedes the Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting is not only a milestone for Namibia, but also a reflection of our shared Commonwealth values of inclusion, resilience and mutual growth, which we are now reflecting in the trade space.
Our dialogue takes place at a critical moment in which the multilateral trading system is being greatly challenged. As a Commonwealth family connected by our history, values and ambition, we have a responsibility to shape its future. This week we will prepare to feed directly into the 2026 World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cameroon. Let us therefore use this opportunity to sharpen our collective voice ahead of that gathering.
Namibia, like many other countries, is hard at work to transition from a commodity-based economy to one that adds value. From renewable energy and logistics corridors to digital transformation ambitions, we aim to improve efficiency and align with our trading partners globally.
Our agenda today reflects the spirit of forward-looking within our Commonwealth. We will revisit the key points raised during our May virtual session and ensure that we carry that momentum forward with practical, time-sensitive actions.
We’ll engage in a substantive exchange on how the Commonwealth can strengthen its role in the multilateral world, through credible positions and aligned strategies. We will work on practical ways to leverage and build intra-Commonwealth trade, engage boldly and find ways to leverage our regional strengths, improve connectivity, and unlock investment across different sectors – especially in critical minerals and climate-aligned goods.
Importantly, we will draft the ministerial statement as a clear signal of political intent – grounded in economic reality and sensitive to the diverse needs of our member states.
Let us keep our dialogue open and to the point while we aim to make new proposals and create a space for innovation and practical solutions.
Colleagues, we may come from different geographies and stages of development, but we are united by a common purpose: to build inclusive and dynamic economies that deliver for our people. And I have every confidence that our work here will lay strong foundations for that future.
I look forward to fruitful, constructive exchanges over the next two days – and now I warmly invite our co-chair from Samoa to deliver her opening remarks.
