09 Sep 2013

Botswana Heads of Missions abroad have been urged to go back to the drawing board to re-examine strategies to improve the declining Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani said at the beginning of the week-long Heads of Missions conference in Gaborone on September 9 that they should come up with sustained, coordinated and collective efforts towards optimising trade and investment opportunities in the global arena. 

He said while considerable efforts and resources had been put into trade and investment promotion initiatives over the years, the result has not been great or very encouraging.

Mr Skelemani further said economic diplomacy was core to international relations, although political interests and considerations were still important.

 He further called on envoys to intensify their promotional activities and ensure that Botswana benefits from the existing frameworks of cooperation with development partners. 

“As a ministry which takes the whole of government approach in fostering Botswana’s interests abroad, we have to fully understand Botswana’s development policies and priorities, as well as dynamics of the changing world order,” he said. 

The minister also said he was aware of the administrative issues at the core of the welfare of the diplomats and noted that he takes staff welfare very seriously.

Dean of Heads of Missions, Mr Roy Blackbeard said they recognised that Botswana need to continue building strong alliances with the international community and not as just government to government level, but with non-state actors such as the private sector. 

He said as Heads of Missions, they remain confident that the decline in FDI flows into the country can be reversed, adding that they would like to engage more with stakeholders to collectively pursue the promotion of national interests. 

The week-long Heads of Mission conference, which is held annually, is themed: Botswana Foreign Policy in the 21st century: Priorities, Challenges and Opportunities.

It is intended to afford Botswana’s diplomatic envoys abroad, Heads of Department in the Ministry and a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the public and private sectors an opportunity to exchange views on issues that affect the country. ENDS