Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has proposed a Sister City partnership between Philadelphia and a Namibian municipality, marking a strategic push to strengthen diplomatic, economic and grassroots ties between the United States and Namibia.
The proposal was announced Thursday night following her receipt of a Philadelphia City Council Citation – one of the city’s highest honours – in recognition of her leadership in global cooperation.
“In the spirit of deepening our ties and creating lasting people-centred partnerships, I wish to propose the exploration of a Sister City agreement between Philadelphia and a Namibian city or town,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said during the ceremony.
“Such a partnership would provide a structured framework for long-term cooperation across areas including education, trade, health, urban development, and cultural exchange.”
She said the twinning arrangement would allow municipalities to learn from one another’s experiences, share innovative practices and promote grassroots diplomacy that connects our citizens directly.
“We invite the City Council and relevant stakeholders to work with us in identifying a suitable Namibian counterpart and setting this partnership in motion.”
She outlined a bold vision for bilateral engagement, including direct maritime trade between the Port of Philadelphia and Namibia’s Walvis Bay, expanded air connectivity and agricultural exports to US markets.
She positioned Namibia as a strategic African gateway for American trade, citing Walvis Bay’s role as a logistics hub for southern Africa and Philadelphia’s expanding port infrastructure.
“By exploring direct maritime routes between our ports, we can unlock trade corridors that reduce transit times, lower shipping costs and create a more efficient flow of goods between Africa and North America,” she said.
“This vision is not only commercially viable it is strategically necessary in a world that increasingly values diversified and resilient supply chains.”
The Namibia leader said Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek could serve as a regional aviation hub for direct passenger and cargo flights to Philadelphia.
Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted opportunities in agricultural trade, pointing to the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market as a potential entry point for Namibian exports such as grapes, dates, fish and specialty beef.
She called for investment partnerships and compliance frameworks to support this vision.
Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson presented the Citation, praising Nandi-Ndaitwah’s commitment to multilateralism and inclusive development.
Mayor Cherelle Parker followed with a symbolic gift – a miniature Liberty Bell – underscoring shared values of freedom and democracy.
JN/APA