President Mbumba says King Phillipe's visit will present Namibia and Belgium with an excellent opportunity to deepen the strong bonds of friendship and growing bilateral relations the two countries enjoy.

The sectors of cooperation to be discussed include green hydrogen, environmental protection, tourism, forestry, arts and culture, trade, and investment, as well as the development of port infrastructure.

Belgium is Namibia's fifth-largest export partner, and its exports to Belgium include copper, diamonds, precious metals, fruits, and nuts valued at more than N$5 billion between 2022 and 2023. 

Namibia imports pharmaceutical products, mineral fuels and oil, and products of the mining industry valued at more than N$3 billion.

King Phillipe will be accompanied by a business delegation. 

The Presidency, in a statement, says people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have also seen a sharp increase in the area of education. 

Namibia is also one of the top tourism destinations for Belgian tourists in Africa, which has increased Belgian tourism investments here.

On the diplomatic front, engagements between Namibia and Belgium have increased over the last three years.

The late President Hage Geingob met the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in 2021 and during the European Union-African Union Summit in Brussels in 2022.

De Croo and Geingob visited a green hydrogen refuelling station in Belgium and were shown various hydrogen applications.

Geingob also visited King Phillipe at his Royal Palace, where the two discussed a stronger economic and development partnership between the countries.

An arrival ceremony for King Phillipe will be held at State House, after which official bilateral talks will take place. 

King Phillipe will lay a wreath at Heroes Acre and visit the HISA Community Centre in Okuryangava in Windhoek.

On Thursday, President Mbumba and King Phillipe will witness the inauguration of the Cleanergy Green Hydrogen project in Walvis Bay.

They will also visit the hydrogen refuelling station and take a tour of the green hydrogen production area, the dual-truck workshop, and the solar park.

King Phillipe will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism and Lignaverda Reforestation Cooperation.