India, Namibia identify critical minerals as key bilateral cooperation area

India and Namibia are two countries that have decided to become better friends and business partners.

They want to work together on special minerals called "critical minerals," like lithium and copper.

These minerals are used to make things like batteries, phones, and clean energy.

The two countries met in New Delhi, India, in August to talk about their plans.

They agreed to work together from digging minerals out of the ground to turning them into finished products.

This is good for Namibia because it will create more jobs there and help the country build things itself.

It is also good for India because it needs a steady supply of these important minerals.

The two countries also plan to work together on health care, digital payments, clean energy, and trains.

Their trade together is growing and reached almost $593 million in the latest year.

India is also making bigger trade plans with several countries in southern Africa.