Why in news?
During his state visit to Namibia in July 2025, the Indian Prime Minister received the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, Namibia’s highest civilian honour. He is the first Indian leader to be so honoured.
About the award
- The honour is named after Welwitschia mirabilis, a remarkable desert plant native to Namibia that can live for more than a thousand years.
- Conferred by the President of Namibia, the award symbolises endurance, resilience and long‑lasting friendship.
- It is reserved for individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Namibia’s partnerships and global relations.
Significance for India–Namibia relations
- Strategic minerals: Namibia possesses large deposits of uranium, rare earths, oil and copper. India seeks cooperation to secure critical minerals for clean energy and technology.
- Defence and security: Discussions include maritime domain awareness and defence manufacturing. Namibia is part of the India‑led Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
- Digital collaboration: Agreements were signed for implementing India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Namibia, expanding digital public infrastructure in Africa.
- Human development: MoUs cover healthcare, pharmaceuticals and youth entrepreneurship, deepening people‑to‑people ties.
- Wildlife conservation: Namibia assisted India’s Project Cheetah by providing cheetahs for reintroduction into Kuno National Park, highlighting ecological cooperation.