The Creative Industry Institute Africa (CIIA) had the honour of hosting a distinguished delegation from Berlin as part of the Sister Cities in Action initiative. The delegation included Mr. Michael Biel, State Secretary of the Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises; Ms. Stefanie Reich, Head of Unit / Senior Policy Officer; Dr. Jens Homann, Head of Division; Ms. Nicola Humpert, Project Coordinator at BGZ Berlin; as well as representatives from SODI e.V.

They were joined by distinguished key officials including the Governor of the Khomas Region, Hon. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma Jr., Councillor Queen Kamati from the City of Windhoek, Mr. Christopher Eita, Divisional Head: External and International Relations at the City of Windhoek, along with representatives from the City of Windhoek and the wider creative sector. 

The visit featured a roundtable discussion during which CIIA presented its current and upcoming projects, highlighting opportunities for collaboration between Berlin and Windhoek. Film, fashion, and music were reaffirmed as key pillars for future cooperation between the two cities.

In his remarks, Mr. Biel emphasised that Berlin’s success as a globally recognised creative hub did not emerge overnight, underscoring the critical role of sustained government support in fostering a thriving creative economy. He also shared insights from a report on Berlin’s creative industries, outlining potential avenues for collaboration with Windhoek-based organisations and creatives.

As the coordinating organisation for the Sister Cities in Action initiative in Windhoek, CIIA welcomes these tangible outcomes and remains committed to strengthening partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for Namibia’s creative sector—an area that continues to be a priority within the national development agenda.