Windhoek, Aug 24– Nedbank Namibia brought together members of the Diplomatic Corps, government representatives, and business leaders in Windhoek on 18 August, to strengthen stakeholder relationships and support greater cross
border engagement.
The event provided a platform for direct discussions on the banking needs of diplomatic missions and non-
resident clients operating across multiple jurisdictions. It also enabled participants to explore how financial institutions can connect international stakeholders with the relevant expertise and local business networks.
Guests included Deputy Minister of International Relations and Trade, Honourable Jennely Matundu; Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe and representative of the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Her Excellency, Melody Chaurura; Nedbank Africa Regions Group Managing Executive, Dr Terence Sibiya; Nedbank Group Head: Non-Resident and Diplomatic Banking, Elelwani Pandelani; Nedbank Namibia Manging Director, Martha Murorua, and members of the Nedbank Namibia’s board of directors and executive committee.
Murorua, who welcomed the guests at the gathering said: ‘Diplomatic missions and non-resident stakeholders require financial partners that understand the complexities involved in operating across jurisdictions. Our commitment extends beyond traditional banking services. We understand that diplomatic missions and international stakeholders often require trusted partnerships that can help navigate local business environments,
foster connections, and identify opportunities that contribute to sustainable economic growth.’
Speaking on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps, Her Excellency, Chaurura said international relationships must produce tangible economic opportunities: ‘The challenge before us is how to convert diplomatic goodwill into sustainable economic value. Economic diplomacy must be more than the cultivation of relationships. It must create pathways for investment, facilitate trade, promote entrepreneurship and support infrastructure development.’
Pandelani then delivered the keynote address, placing economic diplomacy within a changing global
environment where investment decisions are increasingly influenced by geopolitical considerations. She said these required countries and institutions to rethink how international relationships translate into practical economic outcomes: ‘Economic diplomacy must evolve from simply building relationships to managing interdependence. The world is not becoming less connected; it is becoming more selectively connected.’
She added that diplomatic missions form part of an economic system that connects governments with businesses and investment opportunities. And that financial institutions support these relationships by providing the infrastructure required for funds to move securely across borders. She added that Nedbank’s Non-Resident and Diplomatic Banking offering supports diplomatic missions and international investors through specialist exchange-control expertise and dedicated relationship banking. Clients can also access local and foreign- currency banking solutions within the applicable regulatory framework.
Closing the programme, Dr Sibiya said: ‘Diplomacy opens doors, strengthens relationships and creates possibilities. Banking gives those possibilities the financial infrastructure to become real, whether through trade, investment, cross-border payments, capital flows or business expansion.’
He mentioned that foreign investment should extend beyond individual projects by supporting local suppliers and developing skills within the economy.
