09 Nov 2021

In line with his pledge of ensuring Batswana occupy positions in international organisations, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s participation in the 41st UNESCO general conference will enhance Botswana’s chances of being in the body’s executive board.

In an interview with BOPA yesterday ahead of the President’s arrival, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr Lemogang Kwape said occupying such  positions would assist in selling Botswana to international markets.

Dr Kwape said President Masisi had already managed to secure places for Batswana in a number of international bodies the most recent being that of Mr Gao Lemmenyane as African Union cultural advisor.

Mr Lemmenyane’s appointment follows the recent ascension to the position of SADC executive secretary by Mr Elias Magosi.

Apart from attending the UNESCO conference, Botswana will also be looking for potential investors especially in the area of sustainable environment.

To that end, President Masisi will meet with a number of business people.

For his part, Botswana’s ambassador to France, Mr Mustaq Moorad said France was known for its use of renewable energy therefore the two countries could collaborate in the area especially now that the world was going green.

Pointing out that France was one of the most visited countries in the world, clocking 84 million tourists before COVID-19 hit, he said Botswana could take advantage of that and go as far as language training.

He said Botswana needed to push and promote the Okavango Delta as a toruist destination.

The ambassador said President Masisi’s small stock initiative could emulate some techniques from the smart farm project the President was expected to visit.

The farm is self contained and produces its own electricity which it feeds into the national grid.

President Masisi will also visit Station F, the world’s largest start-up business incubator with the aim of finding opportunities for Botswana businesses to be incubated in the facility.

Mr Moorad said  Botswana and France could also cooperate on cultural matters.

On diplomatic relations between the two countries, he said they dated back to 1967 though Botswana only opened its France mission in 2019.

He said President Masisi will meet with Botswana-France friendship groups, the senate and the national assembly for bilateral talks aimed at strengthening the two countries’ relations.

Ambassador Moorad described the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) as a Botswana-France success story.

France provided BVI with the necessary assistance which enabled Botswana to export livestock vaccines to the region and the rest of the world, he said.

Ambassador Moorad echoed Dr Kwape’s words to the effect that President Masisi’s presence at UNESCO conference would enhance Botswana’s chances of being elected to the board.

The last time Botswana served in the UNESCO board was in the 90s, he said.

In addition to Dr Kwape, President Masisi is also accompanied by First Lady Neo Masisi, Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Dr Douglas Letsholathebe, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi chairman Kgosi Puso Gaborone and senior government officials. Ends