Chamwe Kaira
A new RMB white paper on Africa’s economic future highlights Namibia as one of the continent’s key reformers, pointing to its progress in digital payments and its ambitious green hydrogen plans.
According to the Continent at a Crossroads report, Namibia has become the first and only African country to integrate India’s Universal Payments Interface (UPI) into its national payments system.
The agreement between the Bank of Namibia and India’s national payments coordinator will allow real-time, low-cost digital payments across borders.
RMB says the move positions Namibia as a regional leader in interoperable financial technology.
The report notes that while several African countries have domestic instant-payment systems, Namibia is the first to adopt a global-standard platform through a government-to-government agreement.
Analysts say this step could support digital trade and expand financial inclusion.
The paper also highlights Namibia’s plans for climate-aligned industrial development. It points to the country’s flagship green hydrogen programme as an example of how African states can attract climate investment by grouping major infrastructure components into a single project.
Namibia’s planned hydrogen complex will include renewable power generation, a port, desalination facilities and new railway links.
Energy expert Wendy Poulton said such “clustering” is a key reason the project has progressed, and that Africa needs more integrated developments to meet rising climate finance needs.
The report argues that initiatives like Namibia’s can support efforts to close Africa’s large climate-finance gap.
The continent needs about US$250 billion each year to meet its Paris Agreement commitments but receives only about US$29.5 billion, most of it issued as debt.
The white paper places Namibia’s actions within Africa’s broader push for digital transformation, regional integration and green industrialisation.
It says Namibia’s early steps in digital payments and green energy reflect the type of practical innovation Africa will require as countries work to unlock opportunities under the AfCFTA and reduce reliance on raw commodity exports.
“Africa’s potential fails to match reality. Expanses of arable land have not translated into food security. Mineral riches under the surface tend not to be converted into sustainable and shared wealth. And grand plans too frequently stumble in practice,” said Isaah Mhlanga, chief economist at RMB.
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Namibia is emerging as an African pioneer in digital payments and green hydrogen strategy.
-Photo: RMB
