New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- India and Namibia on Tuesday agreed to cooperate in exploration, offtake, processing and downstream beneficiation of lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements, while strengthening bilateral economic ties in line with New Delhi's strategy of trade diversification and creation of a robust supply-chain for critical minerals. Closer cooperation with Namibia is expected as India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) sign terms of reference (ToR) for a preferential trade agreement on Wednesday in the presence of Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, a commerce ministry's spokesperson said. Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa are the members of SACU. After signing of the ToR, negotiations for the free trade agreement will commence within one month and talks will conclude within one year, he added. "Namibian participation is also invited in India's Special Notified Zones at Surat and Mumbai and in the India Rough Gemstones Sourcing Show, together with training support in diamond cutting, polishing and jewellery design," the spokesperson said. This decision was taken at the fourth session of the India-Namibia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) that was held in New Delhi on August 10-11, 2026. JTC is the principal bilateral institutional mechanism for reviewing trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. The 5th session of the JTC will be held in Namibia in 2028, he said....