17 Jul 2019

Botswana appreciates France’s contribution to its development agenda.

Speaking at France’s National Day in Gaborone recently, international affairs and cooperation acting minister, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said France had been an invaluable strategic development partner to Botswana since independence, particularly in sectors such as tourism, education and culture, among other things.

“It is most heartening that throughout the year, France has espoused internationally shared fundamental values of democracy, peace, respect for the rule of law and human rights,” he said.

Such fundamental values, he said, were equally cherished by Botswana and served as firm foothold for strong and enduring relations between the two countries.

Again, he said the two countries had partnered in critical areas such as transfer of knowledge and best practices in the information technology sector, aviation, anti-poaching, including counter terrorism and cybercrime.

Furthermore, Minister Molefhi appreciated mutual partnership in education and language training conducted largely though Alliance Françoise initiative, saying such had become a pillar of cross cultural and linguistic exchange.

Mr Molefhi said the opening of the Botswana resident mission in Paris last month was also clear indication of the wide ranging and robust collaboration covering many areas of development that the two countries shared.

France embassy’s chargee d’affaires, Ms Sandrine Maury said Botswana and France always had good relations and shared same values of democracy, respect of the rule of law and human rights.

Ms Maury said the two countries’ bilateral relations had helped deepen the already existing good cooperation in terms of trade, security and defence as well as education and culture.

Meanwhile, she said the national day was a reminder of the momentous events of July 14, 1789 that marked a turning point in trajectory of the French Revolution and led the country to its independence.  Ends