24 Mar 2024

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and his Commonwealth of The Bahamas counterpart, Prime Minister Phillip Davis have revealed plans to include tourism, education, agriculture and finance as additional instruments of bilateral cooperation by June.

A joint statement by the two heads of state, which was read by Foreighn Affairs director,Europe and Americas Mr Charles Masole on Saturday at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport after the six-day official visit, said the two leaders engaged in fruitful discussions on issues of mutual interest at bilateral and multilateral levels.

Mr Masole said the two expressed their satisfaction at the strong bonds of friendship, solidarity and cordial relationship between their nations. “They also expressed their desire and commitment to work closely together to further deepen and enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

He said the two were also satisfied with progress to implement commitments made during the state visit to The Bahamas by President Masisi last  September.

He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on political consultations was signed and that another MoU between Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) would facilitate the exchange of students and academic staff as well as joint research, development of joint academic programmes and assisting in capacity building.

He said Botswana had extended 10 scholarships for the academic year 2024/2025 to The Bahamas and further reserved 105 graduate spaces for students from The Bahamas at BUAN.
Mr Masole said the Caribbean nation had offered Botswana access to a depository facility at the Grand Bahama Port to enhance trade links, foster economic cooperation and to facilitate Botswana’s exports into the United States and other international markets.

He said the two leaders also exchanged views on political and security developments in their respective regions and around the world. “They noted with satisfaction that generally conditions of peace and stability continued to prevail in the Southern Africa region safe for pockets of instability in some parts of the region, particularly northern Mozambique and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Mr Masole said they expressed concern at the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Haiti, and that they strongly condemned  the activities of armed gangs and expressed hope for a speedy deployment of a multinational security support mission under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council. The two leaders also urged all parties involved to allow the transitional council to bring stability back to Haiti.

He said President Masisi and Prime Minister Davis expressed concern on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly the unacceptable killing of children, women and the elderly.
Mr Davis was in the country at the invitation of President Masisi following the latter’s state visit to The Bahamas last year. ENDS