28 Jul 2021

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has appealed to cooperating partners for timely delivery, fair priced and equitable distribution of COVID -19 vaccines to developing countries.

Dr Masisi, who made the plea during a virtual 13th US-Africa Business Summit July 28, said it was only when vaccines were delivered on time, priced fairly and distributed equitably that lives could be saved and developing economies get back on their feet. 

 “We join the like-minded and plead that patents should not be used to delay or prevent Africa from accessing vaccines timeously and at an affordable price,” he said.

President Masisi said there was an earnest push to save Botswana’s population from COVID-19 through the implementation of life saving programmes that included a successful and timely vaccination programme.

“However the shortage of vaccines is negatively affecting our rollout plan. Along with this priority Botswana is looking for investment to build the necessary infrastructure to manufacture the much needed vaccine,” he said.

He said the US  was a long-standing partner to Botswana and both countries were looking to deepen the partnership.

However, he regretted Botswana continued to underperform in expanding its export quota to the US even under preferential arrangements such as AGOA.

“Now is the time to look at new pathways of cooperating with the US, to deepen our existing cooperation especially in the economic and trade spheres. Our priority is therefore to greatly enhance trade and investment between the US and Botswana,” he added. Dr Masisi said Botswana had consequently embarked on a drive to diversify export portfolio and promote growth of other sectors for export into US through the AGOA response strategy.

He said as part of the national agenda of moving the country forward government had identified new pathways in the rebuilding process. 

President Masisi said government had developed a digital transformation strategy aimed at developing a new proposition to drive transformation across the government, economy and society.

He said government was looking for strategic development partners who could assist the country to capitalise on the 4IR technologies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation strategy." Digitisation has the immense potential to unlock and enable high productivity among our people.The global village runs on the wheels of digitisation which quintessential to the delivery of service to our people",he said.

Dr Masisi said value chain development was also identified as means to unlock opportunities for new, high growth companies in the private sector and youth empowerment attributes.

“Last but not least is mindset change which places economic empowerment of citizens at the epicenter of Botswana’s economic development. I have said we need to drastically shift our way of doing things to be more efficient,” he said.

He said Botswana was improving the ease doing business in by simplifying processes for investors.

“it is my belief that you are looking at ways to partner with Botswana and nurture the spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa, to gain maximum benefits from economic partnership with the US. As a country we aspire to stimulate economic growth through value addition and beneficiation of our natural resources, “he said.

Different speakers among them several cabinet ministers took turns to inform delegates about the business climate in Botswana as well as the abundance of trade and investment opportunities in different sectors of the economy. ends