27 Sep 2020

Botswana’s participation in World Economic Forum (WEF) engagements along with some global political, economic and academic leaders presents an opportunity for the country to build solid partnerships. 

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi revealed this in an interview after partaking in an WEF sustainable development impact summit virtual discussions held on the sidelines of the 75th UN general assembly.

Over the past two years, President Masisi led delegations to the 49th and 50th annual WEF meetings in Davos, Switzerland - the first time the country ever participated in the forum at the highest political level.

Attendance of the meetings, the President explained, began a process that offered Botswana  a platform to engage key global decision makers who could assist the country in realising  its  transformation agenda forming part of his development blueprint as well as national vision 2036 aspirations.

“What took me to Davos had been the intention to seek global partnerships that could be beneficial to attaining our key developmental objectives. Since then, we have had the platform to engage with international business, political and academic leaders who are practically engaged in international development,” Dr Masisi said.

The WEF virtual meeting, held over the past week, discussed usage of digital technology in contributing towards attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

President Masisi continued to pursue the right partnerships as the country seeks to fully partake in the fourth industrial revolution.

During the WEF meeting, President Masisi engaged with leaders of different sectors including technological giants Google, whose leadership had committed to investing in Botswana.

Dr Masisi explained that coordination of international contacts and plans of realising national digital transformation would be the responsibility of Office of the President with other players including the private sector, actively engaged.

Prior to the WEF virtual discussions, President Masisi had a bilateral engagement with Dr Achim Steiner, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator.

The President said his meeting with Dr Steiner further underscored  Botswana’s intention to tap on international expertise to further the means towards attainment of development goals.

On the use of technology in Botswana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic such as for application of permits, President Masisi said technological usage could be extended to other sectors including payment of taxes, health care provision as well as improving farming elements such as tracking of stray cattle.

Botswana, he said, needed international assistance in promulgating the requisite legislative framework, having the right technological infrastructure and skills in order to realise its ambition of partaking in the fourth industrial revolution. Ends