President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for stronger linkages between the Port of Walvis Bay and the Port of Philadelphia in the United States. This follows her recent working visit to Philadelphia, where she held talks with the city council leadership.

Namibia's broader ambition to position itself as a logistics hub in southern Africa has driven targeted investments in expanding port infrastructure. 

President Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that collaboration with the Port of Philadelphia would open new markets and create tangible benefits, particularly as Walvis Bay serves several landlocked countries in the SADC region.

"If we can now link it with the Philadelphia Port, we would even increase exports between the two countries. Namibia is a producer of fresh products. I visited the wholesale Philadelphia market, and we can sell grapes, dates, beef and others. And also people-to-people contact; to have even direct airline connectivity between Namibia and Philadelphia, whether commercially or through chartered airlines, can be developed."

She also proposed city-twinning agreements to foster long-term partnerships between the two sides.

Mayor of the Philadelphia City Council, Cherelle Parker, welcomed the proposals, describing them as timely in light of renewed federal investment in the shipbuilding industry.

"Philadelphia was historically a strong and prominent shipbuilding port in the nation. We are celebrating 250 years in 2026, and we are really proud that shipbuilding is now coming back as an industry of choice. We had not placed a great deal of investment in that area, but from a defence perspective, great opportunities have now come from the federal government, along with roads. And then education – I love the idea of student exchange."

Recent figures indicate that the Port of Walvis Bay handled 8.4 million tonnes of cargo in the year ending March 31, while the Port of Philadelphia handled 36 million tonnes in the previous year.