08 Apr 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has called on Norway to consider increasing Botswana’s beef quota.

He was speaking during a meeting with Norway’s deputy foreign minister Ms Marianne Hagen who paid a courtesy call on him on April 8.

President Masisi said he waited with bated breath for Norway to give Botswana some motivation to grow and diversify  beef products to be exported to Norway.

He said Botswana had good quality beef that was competitive in world markets because it was environmentally friendly, range grown and stimulant free.

President Masisi said Botswana chose to work with Norway because of its consistency with regard to previous discussions about the beef industry.

Dr Masisi called on Norway to have political will that would have a more significant impact for employment creation especially for unemployed graduates.

“Employment has become the single biggest issue and we are begging bilateral partners who have the ability to tinker a political will to assist us,” he said.

Dr Masisi said should Norway work with Botswana, there would be a possibility of increaseing the value of meat products especially its processing according to the dictates of the Norwegian markets.

Botswana would also be in a position to diversify meat agriculture to include mutton and goat meat for export.

Dr Masisi further called on Norway to transition from Generalized System Preference that is a non-binding, to a trade agreement, which he said would help Botswana greatly.

The President commended Norway for its impeccable management of sovereign wealth fund adding that the country had the potential to assist Botswana to maximise benefits from its mineral riches.

Meanwhile, Ms Hagen has said Norway and Botswana enjoyed close ties and friendship.

Norway, she said, would explore possible areas of cooperation with Botswana especially in the solar energy as it was endowed with expertise in the sector.

She said there was great potential in renewable energy sector in Botswana which needed to be explored.

Ms Hagen said Norway was negotiating with Southern Africa Customs Union member states, possible trade agreements, which Botswana was likely to benefit from.

She said she discussed with President Masisi issues of trade as both countries were members of World Trade Organisation.

“We both need rules based on international trade order for us to be able to export and import because we are both small economies,” she said. ENDS