20 Oct 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama on Monday left for South Korea on a three-day state visit. 

Speaking in an interview following the president’s departure, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Gaeimelwe Goitsemang said the visit was meant to cement the relationships the two nations have had since 1968. 

Mr Goitsemang said South Korea was amongst the first countries to provide assistance to Botswana after independence.  

He said President Khama’s trip would focus on how Batswana could benefit from this mutual relationship especially that South Korea had an advanced economy. 

South Korea has a rural development movement that could be traced to the 1970s. 

Mr Goitsemang said this programme offered an opportunity for Botswana as it dwelt on poverty eradication. 

Other than economy, the two countries shared democratic ideals and Botswana could learn from them on how to address poverty, unemployment and energy. 

The other focus areas for the trip would be water, energy, education as well as transport and communication. Parallel to the visit, there would be a trade mission to promote investment opportunities available in Botswana. 

Meanwhile, Mr Goitsemang said Botswana did not have a diplomatic mission in South Korea but was represented through the office based in Japan. 

He said while South Korea remained an important partner, opening a diplomatic office was expensive, therefore Botswana will not open an office anytime soon. The President and his entourage are expected to arrive in Gaborone on Sunday. Ends