22 Aug 2018

 

Botswana heads of mission have been advised to put impetus on promotion of economic diplomacy, Dean of Botswana Diplomatic Corps, Mr Manyepedza Lesetedi has said.

Speaking to BOPA on the sidelines of the 2018  Botswana heads of mission consultative forum in Gaborone, Mr Lesetedi said President Mokgweetsi Masisi emphasised government’s keenness on economic diplomacy as a means of advancing the country’s economic agenda.

The President, he noted, had asked the diplomats to be fully committed as a means to drive foreign direct investment and generation of revenue for the country.

Mr Lesetedi said the President urged them to market Botswana in order to boost growth and employment creation.

He said the diplomats, who had a meeting with the President, also engaged him on finding a common approach for marketing the country.

Mr Lesetedi said the usual cliché of promoting Botswana as a peaceful country or appealing tax incentives had not achieved much hence the need for a new focus.

“Our focus for marketing should be more specific in identifying projects and investment opportunities in more concrete terms,” he said.

He said it was therefore important for them to know local company profiles.

“It is also important that our private sector engages us in this mission to discuss economic issues in all their visits abroad in order to secure tangible investments from abroad,” he said. 

Mr Lesetedi said envoys stressed the need for training to help bring them up to date with current marketing trends. 

In another interview, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Unity Dow said the President had set the tone for the country’s foreign policy direction and also briefed them on the key priorities of his roadmap .

“The ambience of the meeting has been clear from the start that if they do not engage him, he would not know their challenges and if the path he wants to take was on the right direction,” she said.

In addition, the meeting allowed the diplomats to engage President Masisi on key areas of interest such as the idea of having a foreign service act.

She said the envoys also suggested a codified foreign policy document as well as strategies with well outlined economic benefits.

Dr Dow said the slogan “Botswana, Our pride your destination” should be lived because there was a lot involved in an effort to position the country  well in the international arena.

Envoys should go an extra-mile to make Botswana a destination of choice for business, investment and tourism, she added.

“There are justice and security issues involved, efficiency on how we do things, effectiveness in responding to requisites of those wishing to do business in the country such as issuance of permits,” Dr Dow said stressing that delays in responding to business requests would not tolerated.

She said the stringent visa regime was under review in order to make Botswana a destination of choice for investors and tourists. 

The week-long consultative forum was held under the theme; “Strategically positioning Botswana beyond 50”. ENDS