02 Apr 2024

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has welcomed Botswana envoys who are attending the 2024 Heads of Mission conference  which started yesterday ending April 10.

The conference will convene heads and representatives from Botswana’s 23 Diplomatic Missions abroad, focusing on the theme: Advancing Botswana Towards a High-Income, Inclusive, and Knowledge-Based Economy through Strategic Global Engagement. The envoys paid courtesy call on the President yesterday.

During the meeting, President Masisi said the conference was a platform for the envoys to assess the advancements made by Botswana’s missions in furthering the country’s interests abroad in alignment with the national development agenda.

Also speaking at the meeting was Permanent Secretary to the President, Ms Emma Peloetletse, who highlighted the forum’s role in redefining and advancing national interests with effectiveness.

She stressed the crucial engagement of envoys with the international community to promote Botswana and its people’s interests, especially in attracting foreign direct investment and driving economic diversification efforts.

Ms Peloetletse underscored the importance of diplomatic forums for candid policy and programmes reviews in pursuit of broader bilateral and multilateral relations while strategically positioning Botswana in the global landscape.

She emphasised that envoys, as the primary point of contact in foreign countries, played a pivotal role in translating Botswana’s aspirations into tangible benefits, such as job creation through facilitating foreign investment.

“It is of great importance for envoys to engage with the public and private sectors to exchange views on ways in which Botswana can advance the country’s development agenda,” she said.

Thus, she said there was need to collaborate with public and private sectors through trade, investment, social development, and tourism promotion.

Furthermore, Ms Peloetletse said there were notable achievements, such as Selebi Phikwe Citrus  and Lobu projects, saying they were outcomes of the dedicated efforts of Botswana’s envoys.

Ms Peloetletse stressed the importance of economic diplomacy as  central in national development  adding that envoys should collaboratie to attract foreign investment, innovation, and human capital development for sustainable growth.

She urged the diplomats to, strengthen bilateral ties, and enhance economic exchanges with other nations to foster mutual development and economic partnerships.

As part of the conference agenda, the diplomats will visit Lobu Small Stock Farm, Jwaneng Mine, and the Selebi Phikwe Citrus project to assess progress and explore opportunities to support these projects by facilitating access of Botswana goods to global markets. ENDS