06 Sep 2022

Through its abundance of coal, Botswana is in a position to provide the world with the necessary relief from  the current energy crisis.

   This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi when receiving letters of credence from  the European Union (EU), New Zealand and Greece envoys in Gaborone yesterday.

   EU ambassador Ms Petra Pereyra concurred with  Dr Masisi saying Botswana was well placed to take advantage of the world energy crisis.

Producing energy through the use of green technology was an opportunity worth exploiting, she said. 

 President Masisi said Botswana was  looking forward to harvesting, harnessing and enhancing relations with other nations to grow and diversify its economy.

Stating that the country was in a transitional stage towards achieving a knowledge based society,  an area in which the EU had succeeded,  the President said the Botswana/EU partnership would enable the country’s economy to mirror that of its allies. 

Describing the EU as a valuable partner to Botswana, Dr Masisi  said the two shared common values across the economic spectrum and development agenda.

 He said areas of shared values included the environment, climate, peace, democracy and human rights.

The President stressed the need to engage constantly and influence each other through among others cultural exchange.

“We must engage constantly to ensure that our agreements work for us,” said Dr Masisi. 

He said through its partnership with Europe, Botswana was striving to transform and reduce chances of its population migrating to other countries. 

That dream would only be possible through the support of EU, the President said. 

Dr Masisi said he was aware that despite sharing common values, there were areas where Botswana and the EU differed such as on capital punishment. 

Nonetheless, they must always come together and discuss issues in order to move forward together, he said.

Ms Pereyra said the EU was eager to contribute towards Botswana’s economic growth and diversification. 

She said digitisation and economic diversification led by a knowledge based society were the positive elements that would help the country achieve its development agenda. 

Representing New Zealand, Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennet said Botswana was a strong partner and therefore must be highly appreciated. 

“We work together and achieve as one. As we go forward we look at areas where we need to develop and we do so by engaging each other,” she said.  

Dr Dunlop-Bennet promised to ensure that the relationship between the two nations was well harnessed and strengthened.  

Responding, President Masisi said through good governance, transparency and an inclusive economy, Botswana was looking forward to harnessing, harvesting and enhancing the existing cordial relations between the two countries. 

Dr Masisi said agriculture was among the many areas that the cooperation between the two countries must engage on, explore and grow. 

Noting that New Zealand was admired the world over for its exploration of  the agricultural value chain, Dr Masisi said Botswana was currently looking to establish a reputable market for its small stock products.

He appealed to New Zealand to participate in enhancing and developing Botswana’s export market. 

New Zealand, Dr Masisi said, must add value in Botswana’s technological spectrum and small stock industry to help advance its economy. 

Saying Botswana was in a hurry to make meaningful changes, the President said multilateral relations between the two nations presented optimal opportunities that would provide solutions to the world’s challenges.

Meanwhile Greece’s ambassador, Mr Georgios Aravositas has said though small population-wise and still developing,  Botswana was a success story that was emulated the world over. 

Through the hard work of its people and principled governance, the country had succeeded during trying times and was progressing in the right direction, he said.

Mr Aravositas said his assignment was to assist Botswana to continue in its well guided transition to greatness  revealing that areas of focus included tourism, agriculture and public works. 

“Better days are coming,” said Mr Aravositas. 

In response, Dr Masisi noted that Botswana and Greece’s relations dated as far back as 1978 and expressed the hope that Mr Aravositas’ tenure would deepen the two nations’ engagements in the digital space, training and tourism. ends