President Nangolo Mbumba says his missions to the US, Germany, and Spain underscore the basic fact that development cannot be effective without stronger multilateral and bilateral partnerships.

"Our country cannot develop if we don't nurture partnerships by responding to opportunities in the external environment. Therefore, missions of this nature are essential to spur national development. I would like to thank our development cooperation partners, including the United Nations system, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Kingdom of Spain."

President Mbumba's mission to Germany to participate in the Hamburg Sustainability Conference was a continuation of the work done at the UN Summit of the Future.

The conference was held under three themes: "Reshaping the International Financial Architecture," "Unleashing Investment for SDGs," and "Leveraging Transformation."

Dr. Mbumba argued Namibia's case for the reform of the international financial system when he participated in the opening panel alongside the leaders of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

"When we go to these major international institutions, the World Bank, the IMF, and the African Development Bank, you are looked at as somebody who is coming to beg for money. We are members of those institutions; we annually contribute money as members to those institutions, but when you go there, you are looked at; your country is small, your economy is small, and therefore the interest you have to pay must be high, but should it be high, why should I be penalised for being small and smart? So these are the things we are challenging; these institutions must respond to more than challenges; all countries need to be developed, and we must all get money at reasonable interest rates like any other country."

Director-General of the National Planning Commission, Obeth Kandjoze, added, "And that's what we are experiencing at the very moment, not just in the sustainability and development aspect of the country but also in the green space and climate change, so we represented our country at these platforms and more, and of course, there were many side events. At the Business Breakfast in Berlin, we featured very strongly the fact that we are a country that is ready to do business, a country that constitutionally protects its environment, with the climate, and what we are doing in the green hydrogen space."