16 Sep 2026

Botswana and Türkiye remain committed to expanding bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation.

President Advocate Duma Boko said this during a farewell courtesy call by the outgoing Ambassador of Türkiye to Botswana, Mr Ahmet Idem Akay, whom he applauded for a successful tour of duty and urged to continue promoting Botswana’s interests.

“Thank you very much for serving here, for strengthening the relationship, which began in 1981,” President Boko said.

He said the decision to establish a resident mission in Türkiye was commendable and a testament to Botswana’s commitment to deepening relations, attracting investors and creating opportunities for Batswana.

President Boko noted that trade between the two countries had steadily grown over the years, although imports from Türkiye constituted the bulk of trade, while Botswana’s exports accounted for a small percentage.

“We look forward to strengthening this relationship, to ensuring that the volume of trade grows exponentially, because it is important for us to cement and deepen this relationship,” he said.

President Boko said Botswana had gained significantly from the quality and strength of its relations with Türkiye, resulting in increased interest from Turkish businesses seeking investment opportunities in Botswana, particularly in mining, energy and other sectors.

He also expressed hope for the establishment of a Türkiye airline route to Botswana, saying it would improve movement and interpersonal connections while further strengthening relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Akay commended the 45 years of bilateral relations between Botswana and Türkiye and applauded the Government and people of Botswana for their strong commitment to democracy.

He further applauded Botswana’s plan to open a diplomatic mission in Türkiye, describing it as one of the milestones of his tenure. ENDS