03 Jun 2019

 President Mokgweetsi Masisi has called on Batswana in the diaspora to contribute to their country’s vision of building a knowledge-based economy. 

He said this when addressing Batswana based in San Francisco and a nearby bay area during a meet and greet session on June 2.

President Masisi said Botswana’s economy could no longer depend on diamonds alone, hence the need to fire up a second transformation agenda of a knowledge-based economy.

President Masisi said he visited the bay area because of its energy and creativity, adding that a knowledge-based economy drive was evident in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation and financial technology. 

He further said he was fascinated by how high-end skills were coming from people, who were previously agrarian, but had made big investments in the tech space. “We expect you to be committed to Botswana. That you take the good values and feedback to Botswana, but even if you chose to stay here, represent us well with your talent. Always remember where you come from,” he added.

Government, he said, wanted to accord young people a space to practice and be innovative in moving Botswana from an agro based to a knowledge based economy. 

Therefore, President Masisi undescored need to invest heavily on learning and teaching as well as to develop talent.

He encouraged those outside the country to learn new skills and use them to develop their own people. 

He said with the plan to improve internet connectivity, government expected more jobs to be created from installing internet in households.President Masisi said his  entourage was impressed with what they saw during a tour of the bay area, including the headquarters of Airbnb, Mission Bay and Trans Bay. ENDS