Guangzhou, July 6 — Namibia is positioning itself to become a player in lithium battery manufacturing, with Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, saying the country’s mineral wealth must be transformed into locally manufactured products through skills transfer and industrial partnerships.
Speaking to NBC News after touring the facilities of China’s state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group) near Guangzhou, Amutse said ”every investment partnership should help build local expertise and industrial capacity rather than focus solely on exporting raw minerals.”
The visit formed part of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s State Visit to China, during which Cabinet ministers and Namibian business leaders toured one of China’s largest vehicle manufacturers.
The delegation was introduced to GAC Group’s vehicle production operations, including its conventional petrol-powered vehicles and new-energy vehicle brands such as Aion, Hyptec, and Emkoo.
Amutse said Namibia’s long-term industrialisation strategy centres on developing local value addition by equipping Namibians with the skills and technology needed to process critical minerals into higher-value products, including lithium batteries.
He added that engagements with China present an opportunity for Namibia to learn from one of the world’s leading manufacturing economies as it advances its industrial development agenda.
