16 Feb 2022

 As the 6th AU-EU Summit kicks-off here today, Botswana’s position will be to advocate more trade, cooperation and investment in Africa by European nations, which it believes would go a long way in helping to develop the African continent.

The Africa-EU partnership is multi sectoral and it is aimed at bringing Africa and Europe closer together in strengthening economic cooperation, sustainable development, and promotion of human rights, peace and security as well as governance.

Speaking to BOPA ahead of the Summit, International Affairs and Cooperation minister, Dr Lemogang Kwape said the Summit would afford African countries a platform to advocate more trade and investment from the European block, which remains Africa’s biggest trading partner.

The minister said the countries expected issues of peace and security in the continent particularly coups, and the security situation in Mozambiaque to take the centre stage.

He said Africa expected support from European nations in finding solutions to lasting peace as long as the support was in line with the ideals of the African Union. He indicated that Botswana would continue to play a leading role in calling for democratic reforms, respect for the rule of law and advocacy for peace and security not only in the SADC region, but also in the continent.

Meanwhile, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi arrived in Brussels yesterday, and  will join other African leaders in the Summit. He is expected to take part in some of the round table discussions including the Private Sector Support and Economic Integration Round Table where he will be accompanied by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Mmusi Kgafela.

The Round Table seeks to evoke exchanges on how to support the private sector in better leveraging research and innovation to strengthen the overall innovation ecosystem, promote cooperation between Africa and European private sectors including Micro, Small and Medium scale enterprises to embrace the green and digital transitions so as to enable businesses to stimulate sustainable growth, and transformation to a knowledge based and innovation led economy.

These are notably what have come to define President Masisi’s administration’s agenda. The discussions are expected to help Botswana to measure her progress as well as identify more opportunities for cooperation and investment.

The European Union is the biggest importer of Botswana beef and President Masisi has expressed the country’s interest to export lamb and chevon to the block.

President Masisi was in France and the United Kingdom towards the end of 2021 where he held discussions with investors and encouraged them to consider investing in Botswana.

He presented Botswana as an ideal investment destination and is expected to use the opportunity at the Round Table discussions and sideline meetings at the Summit to continue promoting Botswana as the investment destination of choice.

President Masisi will also take part in another Round Table session on Health Systems and Vaccine Production.

This time around Dr Kwape will accompany him.  Africa wants to develop its own vaccines and this is an opportune time to seek support from European nations.

The COVID 19 pandemic has shown how vulnerabilities in health systems can have profound implications for health and economic progress.

This therefore means there is a need to strengthen the capacity of health care systems to enable them to respond swiftly and effectively.

The Roundtable is expected to find answers to how the African Union and the European Union can better cooperate to reach the objective of ensuring that at least 60% African’s population is vaccinated against COVID 19.

It is also expected to find a solution on how diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccine manufacturing on the continent, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area can be achieved to support greater independence from imports.

This Roundtable comes on the background of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Botswana and Nantworks last year December.  

The US-based company will transfer biological manufacturing technology for COVID 19 and cancer vaccines and next generation cell based immunotherapies; improve health management systems and sustainable water generation at Lobu, a government small stock farm in Tsabong and the development of the Maun Science Park.

President Masisi’s participation in the Peace, Security and Governance Round Table is expected to strengthen Botswana’s advocacy for democratisation of Africa, good governance, and peaceful elections as well as peace and security in the continent. President Masisi has played a significant role in this respect as the chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation where he led talks on peaceful resolution of the DRC- Zambia border dispute, peace efforts in the DRC as well as fighting the insurgency in the Carbo Delgado region of Mozambique.

This session will focus on key priories such as strengthening the fight against terrorism, maritime security, AU-EU cooperation and support to enhance the capacities of African armed forces at national, regional and continental levels as well as the improvement of cooperation to foster multilateralism in peace and security areas particularly in countering terrorism, preventing and countering violent extremism and fighting organised crime with a specific focus on targeting illicit financial flows and disrupting terrorist networks. ENDS