29 Jun 2017

Ambassador of Japan to Botswana says Botswana is a peaceful place to live in.

Speaking at a dinner reception at the Ambassador’s residence to welcome the Japanese business and investment mission, Mr Masahiro Onishi said having lived in Botswana for the past two years and 10 months; he had witnessed and experienced how wonderful the country of Botswana was.

“As the Japanese delegation has already been informed, Botswana is ranked high in terms of the easiness of doing business.

Its people are calm and well educated, and as a plus, the land is beautiful and rich with wild animals,” he said.

He indicated that Botswana was also considered a wonderful tourist destination, listed amongst one of the best countries to visit in 2017 by the New York Times.

Mr Onishi said Botswana and Japan shared fundamental values such as democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and was considered to be an important partner for Japan.

“In order for our cordial relations to be further strengthened, it is crucial that Japanese companies coming to Botswana start investing and operating here. My wish is that through this mission, this will become a reality,” said Mr Onishi.

Mr Onishi further said last year marked 50 years of Botswana-Japan diplomatic relations, and he hoped that the friendship between the two countries would grow from strength to strength in the next 50 years.

He also took the opportunity to express his sincere condolences to the family of Former President, Sir Ketumile Masire and to the people of Botswana.

“Batswana have lost one of the founding fathers of this country. He contributed immensely to the country’s development and stability and today Botswana is known as the miracle of Africa. He (Masire) was also integral to the establishment as well as strengthening of relations between Botswana and Japan. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he said.

For his part, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse said he was at the dinner reception not only to offer government’s commitment, but also his ministry’s commitment to facilitating investment and trade between both countries.

“The ministry houses a number of impactful institutions such as Botswana Development Corporation, whose mandate includes equity and debt participation in projects, and Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, whose responsibility is to attract investment to the country, stimulate domestic investment and provide investor facilitation services,” he said.

He indicated that the ministry also worked closely with Business Botswana, the country’s overreacting business association.

Mr Seretse said he was confident that through these institutions government stood ready to facilitate investment and trade between Botswana and Japan.

“Japanese conglomerates wishing to extend their footprints to Africa should consider Botswana as an investment destination of choice,” he urged the Japanese business people. ENDS