21 Aug 2018

Botswana diplomats have been asked to lead government efforts of attracting foreign direct investment.

 

The request was made by Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr Unity Dow when officially opening the 2018 Heads of Mission Consultative Forum on August 20.

 

She said as Botswana’s representatives abroad, heads of mission were the first point of contact and should make every effort to ensure the country’s inspirations were translated into job opportunities through speedy economic diversification.   

 

“In today’s world order, economic diplomacy is at the center of any country’s developmental agenda, therefore we should in that context give particular attention to foreign direct investment, innovation and human capital development to enhance sustainable and inclusive growth in

Botswana,” she said.

 

Pointing out that fighting unemployment was among  President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s priorities, Dr Dow pleaded with the heads of missions the call by luring foreign investors to Botswana for job creation purposes.

 

Botswana, she said,  had not reached her prosperity potential as she still had to contend with numerous challenges such as poverty, crime, slow process of economic diversification, low food production and rising unemployment particularly among the youth.

 

Further, she said  the country had pledged to play its role at regional, continental and global levels for the advancement of peace and prosperity therefore its foreign policy sought to achieve a vision of a peaceful, prosperous and globally competitive Botswana.

 

Dr Dow said government was doing all in its power to capacitate missions  with enough resources to continue promoting Botswana’s interests abroad. 

 

She the consultative meeting came at the right time as it allowed Botswana’s envoys to reflect and map a way forward on issues affecting the country’s national interests.

 

The forum, she said, should serve as a point of reference to redefine and advance issues of national interest with high degree of effectiveness.

 

Minister Dow stated that it was through such fora that policies and programmes could candidly be reviewed in an effort to build wider and deeper bilateral and multilateral relations.

 

Meanwhile, dean of Botswana envoys Mr Manyepedza Lesetedi stated that Botswana took foreign relations seriously.

 

Therefore, he said one of the important issues for consideration by the forum was the codification of foreign policy principles to help guide the county in its interaction with the outside world.

 

The forum, Mr Lesetedi said, which was held under the theme ‘Strategically Positioning Botswana beyond 50’  provided an opportunity for the ministry, jointly with its external branches to assess past performance and reflect on possible  improvements. ENDS