New U.S. Embassy in Namibia Set for Inauguration Next Week

Windhoek – The new U.S. Embassy in Namibia, valued at USD 287 million (approximately NAD 5.412 billion), is scheduled for inauguration next week, according to Randy Berry, the American Ambassador to Namibia. Berry made this announcement during a media tour of the embassy on Wednesday, highlighting the project’s significant contribution to the local economy.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Berry noted that the construction of the embassy, which began on September 29, 2019, and concluded on November 27, 2023, employed around 2,000 Namibians, including 200 women. The embassy is set to become operational in January 2024.

The new embassy building features a gym, a basketball court, and over 4,000 native plants, including 300 trees, representing 33 different species native to Namibia. These plants are designed to require no irrigation. Scott Stables, the Construction Manager of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), highlighted that over six million hours were dedicated to constructing the building without any loss-of-time incidents or injuries.

Stables also pointed out that the embassy’s construction involved social responsibility initiatives, such as hosting over 200 students from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia (UNAM) in the engineering and architecture departments.

The embassy complex includes ground parking spaces, a consular arrival court, managed scrublands, a green roof, terraced gardens, an undisturbed floodplain, and solar panels that provide over 400 kWp, powering 50 percent of the chancery’s needs. The U.S. government’s investment in the new compound has injected approximately USD 17 million into the Namibian economy.