24 Jul 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi will lead the Botswana delegation to the Beijing Summit on China-Africa Cooperation slated for September.

That was revealed by China’s  ambassador to Botswana, Dr Zhao Yanbo on July 23 during the Botswana-China Business Forum.

“This will be the first visit by Botswana President to China in more than a decade,” he said.

 Dr Zhao said the aim of the summit was to deepen mutual understanding, open business opportunities and build consensus on development.

Pointing out that trade continued to grow in China, Dr Zhao said Botswana should seize the opportunity to invest in China.

  About the forum, he said it presented opportunities to explore business ideas and collaborations.

 “I am confident that this engagement will definitely serve to promote the continuous deepening of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

He said the China-Botswana economic and trade cooperation was a win-win principle with the common goal of upgrading the lives of their citizens.

   During the forum, Botswana and China signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to reinforce trade relations.

The MoUs are between Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Business Botswana and China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

In an interview, BITC Chief Executive Officer Keletsositse Olebile said CCPIT was responsible for promotion of foreign trade therefore collaborating with the Botswana agencies would provide a platform for mutually beneficial business partnerships in the two countries.

“CCPIT is almost similar to BITC. They work with us with regards to issues such  as appraisal of companies wishing to set up businesses in Botswana vice versa,” he said.

Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr Unity Dow said Botswana was committed to attracting foreign direct investment to diversify the economy and create jobs as evidenced by various business reforms currently underway.

She said the reforms included the introduction of the regulatory impact assessment tool and immigration improvements.

Dr Dow urged Chinese business delegates to consider setting up businesses in Botswana given the compelling investment climate citing the Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) region as the most ideal.

The forum included delegates from China led by CCPIT and focused on Botswana to establish wide connections and cooperation with relevant organisations.

Sectors of  interest include infrastructure development, manufacturing, financial services, energy, mining, agribusiness and ICT. ENDS