15 Mar 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama yesterday received letters of credence from Philippines, Italy and Switzerland envoys.

Speaking in an interview after presenting his credentials, Ambassador of Philippines, Mr Joseph Angeles expressed gratitude for having been assigned to Botswana.

He said he thanked President Khama for excellent relations that Botswana and Philippines enjoyed.

Mr Angeles, who would be based in Zambia, said there were about 300 to 500 Philippians in Botswana and were thankful to the country for giving them a second home.

“We have a lot to move forward on. Our economic front has to be progressed. And also in the international political sphere, I also thanked the President for the position of the Botswana government for observing the rule of law in events of conflicts amongst states,” he said.

Mr Angeles said he also thanked the President for help that Botswana extended to the Philippines during the Typhoon Haiyan. 

Italy ambassador, Dr Filippo Scammacca, said his country had a growing interest in Africa.

He said his country had strengthened its fund for development cooperation more than in other places and would  in May organise a meeting in order to revamp the relation between Italy and Africa.

“In Botswana, we’ve always had a very friendly relation. Now we have a new revamping of these relations. At the COP 21, Paris Conference, our environment minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Botswana’s minister dealing with environment, wildlife and tourism on adaptation measure to the global warming where Italy made available 2 million Euros (more than P24 million) for studying project initiative into this area,” he said.

For her part, Switzerland ambassador, Ms Helene Budliger Artieda, who would be based in South Africa, said it was a great honour for her to have presented her credentials to President Khama.

She said Botswana and Switzerland had many things in common. 

For example, she said both countries had long tradition of democracy, which they kept very dear to themselves.

“We respect the rule of law, above everything and that is very important to both Botswana and Switzerland. We are both nations that are very well respected in international forums. If you look at the map, we are both landlocked countries, with big neighbours, and I think that helps us to understand each other better,” Ms Artieda added.

Through Switzerland’s excellent relations with Botswana, she said lots of Switz tourists had the opportunity to visit Botswana and appreciated the exceptional fauna and flora of Botswana.

“We have a small trade volume, but none the less it is very important to mention it. Switzerland is importing diamonds and diamond products from Botswana. There is a trade volume, which is interesting, which can certainly grow, and that’s what we are going to be working on,” she said. Ends