Brazil, Namibia, Indonesia. Where the future will be decided
Amid vast coastlines, tropical islands and the clear horizons of the desert, new opportunities for economic cooperation are emerging. In Brazil, Indonesia and Namibia, global economic trends are turning into specific opportunities for German companies, driven by technology, partnerships and sustainable business models.
Namibia is positioning itself as a reliable partner for critical raw materials and, at the same time, as an emerging hub for green hydrogen. Stable and long-term sustainable partnerships are being established where investment is linked to local value creation and training. In Brazil, excellent wind and solar resources are aligning with growing industrial demand, making the country a key market for renewable energy and green hydrogen. In Indonesia, waste management and recycling are playing a major role in modernisation.
Staff from the German Agency for Business and Economic Development (AWE) are working in three of the four countries that Dr Axel Dreher cites as particularly promising markets in his interview with the Editorial Team. How do they assess the conditions and opportunities for German companies in these markets? What can AWE do for companies in this area?
Namibia. Resources for the modern era
by Lutz-Heiner Otto
Namibia is developing into a strategically important partner for German companies, particularly in the area of critical raw materials such as lithium, rare earth, copper, cobalt and graphite. However, cooperation is even more advanced in the field of green hydrogen, where Namibia already plays a leading role thanks to its ideal climatic conditions and political framework. The EU-Namibia Strategic Partnership (since 2022) has been further strengthening this position by promoting secure supply chains, local value creation and high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. German SMEs can benefit from investments in mining projects, processing facilities and renewable energy, with the green hydrogen and PtX sectors currently showing the most dynamic developments.
AWE systematically supports German companies in entering the market by providing free advice on funding and financing options (e.g. via KfW or DEG) as well as by facilitating networking with Namibian partners. In addition, AWE leverages its presence at trade events and close partnerships with associations and chambers of commerce abroad in Germany and Southern Africa to connect German companies in a targeted manner and make it easier to establish sustainable raw materials partnerships.
Cooperation between German companies and Namibian authorities or businesses works particularly well when trust, transparency and local value creation are at the forefront. Namibia’s political stability and the country’s openness to foreign investment create a favourable environment for partnerships. Cooperation is particularly close and successful, for example, in the area of training for skilled workers. In this field, targeted training programmes in cooperation with Namibian vocational schools and universities, as well as deploying German experts for on-site training, play a key role in closing training gaps and strengthening long-term partnerships. These approaches not only promote skills development but also improve the acceptance and sustainability of the projects.
You can contact Lutz-Heiner Otto at +264 81 810 7064, lutz-heiner.otto(at)giz.de
Brazil. The powerhouse for renewable energy
by Eric Neumann
Brazil is emerging as one of the most attractive growth markets for renewable energy and green hydrogen in Latin America. Excellent wind and solar resources, vast land potential, competitive generation costs and growing demand from industry and export markets are opening up attractive business opportunities for German technology providers and investors across the entire value chain, from plant construction, components and PtX to industrial applications. Reliable regulatory frameworks, strong local partners, secure off-take agreements, viable financing structures, and close integration of technology, industry and local politics are key to success.
AWE systematically supports companies in entering the market and developing concrete projects in Brazil. Through project formats such as D4iD – a co-creation and accelerator programme for industrial decarbonisation focusing on deep-tech solutions in areas including hydrogen, electrolysis, energy storage, industrial waste heat utilisation and digital twins – companies gain early access to scalable innovations and pilot projects.
In addition, AWE connects German companies with industrial partners and relevant funding and financing stakeholders through its presence at specialist events, such as Intersolar South America and the EU–Brazil kick-off at Invest São Paulo.
You can contact Eric Neumann at +55 11 5180-4552, E-Mail schreiben
Indonesia. Taking a circular approach.
by Philipp Gläser
In the short term, over the next one to two years, the greatest market opportunities lie in the field of traditional waste management and technical solutions that can be implemented immediately. Indonesia is under political pressure to modernise landfills, reduce open dumping and establish functioning collection and recycling systems. Local authorities, industrial parks and private operators are therefore seeking practical, rapidly implementable solutions. Sorting, processing and recycling technologies are in particularly high demand, especially for plastics and organic waste, as well as for landfill remediation, gas and leachate treatment. A key competitive advantage for German suppliers lies in integrated operational concepts, including training, maintenance and service.
In the medium term, over a period of around two to five years, the focus is shifting from individual projects towards setting up functional integrated systems. With increasing extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulation and growing pressure from export markets, closed-loop material cycles are becoming vital for industry and brand manufacturers. This creates new business opportunities in the development of return systems and producer responsibility organisations, in digital verification and tracking solutions, and in high-quality plastics recycling, for example for food-grade recyclates. At the same time, symbioses in industrial parks are gaining in importance, where water, energy and waste streams are efficiently linked. German companies can not only supply technology here, but also offer integrated system solutions that simultaneously increase efficiency, regulatory security and competitiveness.
Through the Partners in Transformation (PiT) Desk, AWE supports German companies in entering the Indonesian market by connecting them with relevant stakeholders and development cooperation programmes. It facilitates access to local partners, such as cities, associations or operators, and supports the targeted placement of demonstration and pilot projects. This structured approach enables companies to build up initial references and reduce market risks.
In addition, AWE provides free advice on funding and financing instruments and supports in developing viable projects. Through business delegations, dialogue platforms and its cooperation with associations and chambers of commerce in Germany and Indonesia, it assists in establishing long-term economic partnerships and in sustainably scaling business activities.
You can contact Philipp Gläser at +49 6196 79-7208, E-Mail schreiben
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