08 Jun 2022

Botswana stands to benefit from potential deals made with several investors during the just-ended World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

   All stakeholders must therefore be committed to ensuring that the deals were concluded, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said in Gaborone yesterday.

  Speaking at a post-WEF analysis seminar, he said the aim of participating in the forum  was to broaden Botswana’s scope so that the country could build relationships with countries with similar values.

   Such friendships should lead to business linkages, he said.

  Dr Masisi said that was in line with both the reset and transformation agendas’ intention of providing Batswana with job opportunities.

The President said as Botswana was also committed to multilateralism, he did not only confine himself to government-to-government matters but engaged Non-Governmental Organisations, research institutions, parastatals, religious organisations, social movements and young people.

“I did this to articulate Botswana story so I get attention of others who would want to associate with us,” he said.

Dr Masisi said he engaged the international community on his vision of transforming the country and that attracted the attention of WEF chief executive officer, Mr Klaus Schwab who eventually invited him to the international meeting.

At the first meeting, the President said through his engagement, he secured the hosting of Forbes Under 30 which was held for the first time on African soil a month or so ago.

WEF, he said, offered an opportunity to engage with the world’s best leaders under one roof.

“They share a good value of developing the world while getting profits,” he said adding this was good citizenship exercised through corporate social responsibility.

President Masisi expressed the wish to see the Botswana private sector  participating in WEF activities which he said resonated with  government’s idea of building a knowledge-based economy.

Dr Masisi said the country boasted a 60 per cent youthful population, educated and sophisticated which could be tapped into to advance to the next level.

Botswana could also leverage on its advantage of being Africa’s longest and most stable economy to attract investors.

“Our country is ideal for investment – we are a peaceful nation,” he said adding the country was also known for its prudent financial management, good governance and rule of law.

The President said he not only represented Botswana but the rest of Africa during WEF meetings stressing that the continent needed to move away from providing raw commodities but should turn them into finished products.

He said he also engaged with other African leaders to exchange ideas and forge partnerships.

Amongst the people President Masisi met at WEF was Mr Will Marshall, who uses technology to analyze effects of climate change.

He also met World Trade Organisation director general and the Namibian president.

On other issues, Dr Masisi said investing in an electric vehicle did not mean making a whole car but instead the country could position itself to make different components using available resources such as manganese.

Touching on climate change issues, the President said government sought to expand solar energy contribution to the country’s power supply. 

This, he said, meant the country would tap into the abundant sunlight available in Botswana. ends