30 Oct 2022

Batswana have been advised to capitalize on the prevailing cordial relations between Botswana and Lesotho by harnessing investment opportunities.

  “There is no doubt that the private sector is the engine of growth for both countries respective economies to prosper. The relations between the two countries have created an enabling environment for private sector-led cross border investments to thrive,” says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

In an interview subsequent to attending Lesotho prime minister Mr Samuel Matekane’s inauguration ceremony, he said the two countries’ bilateral relation’s provided an enabling environment for investors to widen their business scope and enhance economic relations.

Economic relations, President Masisi said, would complement and enrich the long standing historical ties, ethno-cultural and linguistic connections between the two nations.

He said there were a lot of opportunities for the two countries to collaborate and partner on in order to grow their economies.

The onus, he said, was on the two countries’ business sectors to take advantage of the prevailing bilateral ties and work together to harness opportunities.

Dr Masisi pointed out that Lesotho had strong garment production and pharmaceutical industry that Batswana could tap into.

“It is amazing that Basotho are able to be so productive in food production given the limited land at their disposal, something which I believe Batswana can benchmark on,” President Masisi said. 

Since the SADC region was moving towards regional industrialisation, the President said the two country’s business communities could frequently meet given the strong diplomatic and economic relations that existed between them.

In his inauguration speech, Prime Minister Matekane indicated his country’s readiness to lure in foreign investments saying, ‘Lesotho government vows that it will be open to foreign direct investment’.

He pledged to introduce measures to “make Lesotho great again” by attracting investment and replenishing government coffers. ends