19 Jul 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says he will use the US-Africa Business Summit in Marrakech, Morocco to pursue foreign direct investment to drive job creation.

In an interview before leaving for Morocco on Monday, President Masisi said what government wanted was for jobs to be created, if possible through new industries.

“This is the first time I attend a US-Africa Business Summit and we will promote the trade opportunities that exist in Botswana as well as explore what others could offer our economy,” President Masisi said.

He said prospects for both intra-African trade and better trade with the US existed, especially since Botswana was committed to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with fellow African Union members, who have trade treaties with the US, including those negotiated through Southern African Customs Union.

He further noted existing trade opportunities through the US' African Growth and Opportunity Act.

“We have been able to trade with the textile and apparel goods.

Now we need to explore other ventures that could be beneficial to improving our trade with the US as well as to work with other African states to maximise opportunities offered by AfCFTA,” the President said.

He further said his delegation would also benchmark on how other states traded with the US and [explore{lessons that could be learnt for expanding the Botswana economy.

The summit is convened in partnership with the government of Morocco by the Corporate Council On Africa, a Washington-based American trade association focused on strengthening US commercial ties with the continent.  

Themed; Building Forward Together, the summit will explore building stronger US and African trade, investment and commercial ties as the world emerges from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic . 

The summit commenced yesterday and ends on Friday. Ends