10 May 2017

International Affairs and Cooperation Minister, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi says Brazil has extended technical assistance to Botswana in a variety of fields.

Speaking at a courtesy call by Brazil’s minister of external relations, Senator Aloysio Nunes Ferreira on May 9, Dr Venson-Moitoi said Botswana was grateful for the friendship and invaluable development assistance from Brazil.

Dr Venson-Moitoi mentioned that having established diplomatic relations in 1985, Botswana and Brazil enjoyed strong bonds of friendship and cooperation underpinned by shared values of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

She pointed out that they had since signed political corporation agreement that guaranteed political stability, culture and social inclusion as well as development.

She said despite facing its own domestic challenges of development, Brazil had nonetheless extended generous development assistance to Botswana.

The minister reiterated commitment of government to work closely with Brazil in order to deepen the scope of the two countries’ bilateral relations.

Dr Venson-Moitoi pointed out that the two could work on poverty eradication programme and make everyone live a better life.

For his part, Senator Ferreira hailed Botswana for achieving a lot after independence.

He said the visit afforded the two ministers an opportunity to further explore ways and means of deepening political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

These relations, he said, were not only anchored on shared values of democracy, rule of law, the fundamental rights of all people, sustainable development among others, but also on common interest to develop the individual economies with a view to improve the living standards of the two countries’ peoples.

The Brazilian minister noted that his country’s cooperation with Botswana had been positive in recent years in various fields and hoped that it would strengthen during his tenure, stating that he hoped to develop the bilateral cooperation in various fields including poverty eradication.

“Botswana like Brazil has level of poverty that they want to eliminate,” he said, adding that they had been affected and therefore would work together to eliminate it.

He stated that he was planning that business people in Brazil should invest in Botswana in different sectors to eliminate poverty, saying this could  be in areas of processing glass, jewellery, leather and textile.

He said he was also looking into the fact the Botswana students could study in Brazil so that they came back to the country to improve the livelihoods of their fellow countrymen.

Meanwhile, Senator Ferreira also paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcas Makgatho.

Minister Makgatho explained that the health sector did a lot to fight HIV/AIDS, but nevertheless stated her worries about prices of drugs to fight the scourge.

She also mentioned that the other emerging problem was of non-communicable diseases.

She said a lot of people suffered from non-communicable diseases.

Ms Makgatho also emphasised the need for more improvement and assistance in the areas of personnel especially medical doctors.

She mentioned that her ministry did a lot to train doctors elsewhere outside the country, saying also Botswana has since opened a school for doctors to curb the shortage, but she mentioned that it was difficult to retain them after their completion since they were lured to other countries because of remuneration.

The Brazilian minister congratulated minister Makgatho for the decisive role played by Botswana in the health sector.

Senator Ferreira assured the minister of his government’s willingness to assist anyhow in terms of collaboration in pharmaceutical and capacity building knowledge.

He also mentioned that they would assist in rehabilitation.

Senator Ferreira said their short visit was meant to tap from Botswana’s experience on how the country became a medium income country. ENDS