South Africa and Namibia have signed an Economic Co-operation Agreement (ECA) aimed at strengthening business-to-business collaboration, expanding trade and investment, and deepening economic integration between the two countries.

The agreement, signed on Friday by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) during the Namibia Business Forum in Midrand, seeks to institutionalise commercial partnerships and create new opportunities for cross-border investment.

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Speaking at the forum, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (dtic) Acting Deputy Director-General for Exports, Willem van der Spuy, said the two countries must move beyond policy commitments towards tangible economic outcomes.

“We must move decisively from goodwill to growth, from policy alignment to project implementation, and from economic potential to measurable investment outcomes,” Van der Spuy said.

He said the forum provided a platform for companies to identify trade and investment opportunities, establish strategic partnerships and pursue joint ventures, while enabling governments to address barriers to trade and investment.

“South Africa and Namibia already have a strong economic foundation. Bilateral trade increased from R92.5 billion in 2024 to R101.5 billion in 2025, reflecting deep economic linkages and Namibia’s strategic importance as one of South Africa’s key trading partners within SACU and SADC,” he said.

Van der Spuy said the next phase of cooperation should focus on improving the quality of trade through greater value addition, expanded productive capacity and job creation.

He identified manufacturing, agro-processing, automotive components, mining and mineral beneficiation, energy, logistics, tourism, digital services and infrastructure as priority sectors for regional value chain development.

He also highlighted emerging opportunities in green hydrogen, renewable energy, natural gas, electricity transmission, rail, ports and cross-border transport corridors.

“These are practical areas where businesses can invest, partner, manufacture, finance and export,” he said.

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Van der Spuy said South Africa and Namibia should also leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to position themselves as production partners for the wider African market.

He said governments should reduce trade bottlenecks, improve border efficiency, harmonise standards where possible, support industrial financing and create a predictable regulatory environment.

Van der Spuy also welcomed plans to establish a South Africa-Namibia Business Council, saying it should serve as a results-driven platform to identify investment projects, resolve implementation challenges and connect businesses with government institutions and financiers.

“The Business Council should not be a ceremonial structure. It must drive implementation and unlock investment opportunities,” he said.

SACCI president Mtho Xulu said the newly established Joint Business Council would formalise commercial partnerships and monitor progress in strengthening bilateral trade.

He said the council’s immediate priorities included establishing digital business-to-business networking platforms, identifying priority investment sectors and creating industry working groups from both countries.

“The first step is to build the institutional architecture. We will identify priority sectors, establish working groups and, by the end of the year, have a clear support framework involving the Joint Business Council, the High Commissions and government ministers,” Xulu said.

He said the chambers would also facilitate business matchmaking to make it easier for companies to enter each other’s markets.

“Given our proximity and our membership of SACU, there is already strong cooperation. The focus now is on improving logistics, trade finance and overall efficiency so that business can move faster,” he said.

SACCI chief executive Alan Mukoki said Namibia’s significant oil and gas discoveries presented a major opportunity to strengthen regional energy security and industrial development.

“We take Namibia seriously as a strategic partner because there are many business opportunities between our two countries,” Mukoki said.

“While Namibia has a relatively small population, it has vast natural resources, including significant oil reserves and major gas discoveries.”

Mukoki said stronger regional integration would require harmonised regulations and substantial investment in transport, telecommunications and water infrastructure to connect Southern African economies.

“We also need bilateral trade arrangements that complement the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.

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“We must think beyond individual countries and develop an integrated regional economy. Namibia’s natural gas presents a significant opportunity to support industrialisation and mineral beneficiation across the region.”

He said governments should prioritise regulatory reforms, infrastructure development and the appointment of suitably skilled officials to accelerate investment and turn commercial opportunities into concrete projects.

INSIDE POLITICS

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