12 Aug 2025

The Minister for International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale, is on an official visit to Turkiye from August 11 to 14, at the invitation of the host country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hakan Fidan.

A press release from the Ministry of International Relations states that during the visit, Dr Butale will hold official talks with his counterpart, on bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

The duo is also expected to sign an agreement on visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, official, service and special passports.

He will also sign the official Memorial Book while visiting Anitkabir, which is the resting place of founder and first president of Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, says the release.

The press release further states that Dr Butale will meet with members of the Turkiye-Botswana Business Council, as well as undertaking site visits, including ASELSAN, Turkiye’s leading international defence electronics company, the company that develops technologies in different fields such as avionics, communication, radar, satellite and space.

Botswana and Turkiye established diplomatic relations in 1981 and two enjoy cordial relations and fruitful cooperation in various sectors, such as trade and investment, and human resource development.

Dr Butale is accompanied by the Minister of Minerals and Energy Ms Bogolo Kanenewendo and senior government officials. ENDS