Namibia seeks deeper strategic partnership with Türkiye, says SWAPO youth leader

In an exclusive interview with Yeni Şafak, Namibian politician and businessman Ephraim Nekongo highlighted the growing potential for strategic cooperation between Namibia and Türkiye, emphasizing youth development, agriculture, and infrastructure as key areas for partnership.

Nekongo, who serves as Secretary of the SWAPO Party Youth League and is also a Member of Parliament in Namibia, expressed appreciation for his first visit to Türkiye, praising the country’s hospitality and development model.

As a youth leader within the ruling SWAPO party, Nekongo outlined his role in mobilizing young people and promoting inclusive development policies. He stressed the importance of integrating youth-focused initiatives into the party’s manifesto, which directly informs government policy. According to him, Namibia has made significant investments in education, but now faces the challenge of aligning educational outcomes with employment opportunities.

“Our young people are educated, but many remain unemployed. We must strike a balance between education and job creation,” Nekongo noted, pointing to entrepreneurship and agricultural investment as critical pathways for youth empowerment.

Addressing bilateral relations, Nekongo described Namibia–Türkiye ties as ongoing and promising, particularly following Türkiye’s diplomatic presence in Namibia. He expressed interest in strengthening cooperation through youth exchange programs and deeper institutional collaboration.

Nekongo identified several sectors where Türkiye could play a significant role in Namibia’s development, including agriculture, infrastructure, housing, and technology. He highlighted Türkiye’s advancements in airport construction, road networks, and urban housing as models Namibia could learn from, particularly in addressing its housing backlog and informal settlements.

He also pointed to the importance of technology and innovation, noting the need for Namibia to adopt integrated approaches to development that combine education, employment, and industrial growth.

Commenting on his engagement with Albayrak Group, Nekongo described the company as a comprehensive development partner with expertise across multiple sectors. He cited its work in infrastructure, agriculture, media, and waste management as particularly relevant to Namibia’s needs.

“I see Albayrak as a one-stop center with solutions that can support Namibia’s development goals. There is a lot we can learn and potentially implement back home,” he said.

Concluding the interview, Nekongo extended a message to Turkish youth, calling for stronger people-to-people ties and mutual learning between the two nations. “We want to build a stronger relationship between Namibia and Türkiye and learn from each other as part of one global community,” he stated.