President Mbumba undertakes state visit to Cuba

President Nangolo Mbumba will undertake a state visit to Cuba at the invitation of president Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermúdez.

According to a media statement issued by presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari on Friday, president Mbumba leaves for Cuba on Saturday and is set to return to Namibia on Wednesday.

During the visit, Mbumba will engage in bilateral meetings with Bermúdez, with the objective of scaling up bilateral cooperation.

“The state visit aims to explore opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation, enhancing South-South cooperation and fostering greater business and economic ties between the two nations,” said Hengari.

He noted that Namibia and Cuba share a long-standing bond of friendship and solidarity dating back to Namibia’s struggle for independence and self-determination.
“The government of Cuba, under the leadership of comandante Fidel Castro Ruz, extended vital support to Swapo by providing military equipment and training Plan fighters during the liberation struggle,” Hengari said.

Following Namibia’s independence, the two countries established diplomatic relations. Cuba continues to support Namibia in various ways, including sending medical doctors and nurses to assist the Namibian health sector and providing qualified teachers to bolster the education system.

“Today, Namibia and Cuba maintain excellent bilateral cooperation and have signed several [agreements], and notably three were signed during the state visit of president Bermúdez to Namibia in August 2023,” Hengari added.
The agreements are between the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the Centre for the Promotion of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of Cuba, on political and diplomatic consultations and on the transfer of convicted persons between the two countries.

Hengari said the two nations currently cooperate across various sectors, including health and education, defence and security, construction, works and transport, tourism and environmental management, as well as fisheries and marine resources.