18 Jun 2019

Botswana’s High Commissioner to Mozambique, Mr Gobe Pitso says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s participation at the ongoing 12^th US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo Mozambique was necessary.

Mr Gobe said in an interview with BOPA ahead of the summit scheduled for June 18 until June 21 in Maputo that by leading from the front, President Masisi was in essence giving the much needed impetus and direction on trade and investment policy related issues as well as ensuring that Botswana’s voice and position on issues under discussion was well articulated.

Furthermore, Mr Pitso stated that Dr Masisi’s participation at the US-Africa Business Summit clearly demonstrated the importance Botswana and its leadership attached to the promotion of trade and investment ties with the United States of America and fellow African states.

Since ascent to the highest office in the land in April a year ago, President Masisi has always demonstrated his thirst to forge partnerships with the private sector in order to improve the livelihoods of the entire citizenry and the ongoing summit provide a perfect platform to achieve the feat.

“In this respect, the partnership between government and the private sector must be strengthened, consolidated and intensified to propel this country to greater heights in terms of economic stimulation, job creation and sustainable economic growth,” Dr Masisi had said in his maiden speech as head of state.

Also, he said then that the private sector was therefore expected to step forward and take a lead in catalysing economic activity and sustainable job creating while government played a facilitative role.

The summit, whose primary aim was to forge partnerships between the US and African private sector entities with the intention to spur economic development in Africa while addressing challenges such as cyber-crime, climate change and coming up with measures that could be taken to minimise the impact thereof, will besides heads of state from the African continent, be attended by deputy secretary of state for African Affairs and deputy secretary for Commerce of the Unites States of America.

Also attending will be captains of industry representing different sectors from the United States of America and Africa such as infrastructure development, agriculture, health, energy, ICT and many others.

It is also expected that the summit will seek to give direction on issues of trade and investment with a view to shaping US-Africa policies.

Since 1997, US-Africa Business Summit has been regarded as an essential platform to do business in and investing in Africa

The 2019 business summit will be held under the theme; Advancing a Resilient and Sustainable US-Africa Partnership. ends