17 Sep 2026

Botswana and Oman have signed nine bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at deepening and broadening cooperation between the two countries.

In his remarks, following the signing ceremony in Gaborone on September 17, Minister for International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale said the agreements marked a historic milestone that should translate into tangible benefits for the people of both countries.

The ceremony formed part of the two-day first state visit by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on October 14, 2025.

Dr Butale said the agreements provided practical institutional frameworks for cooperation in a more systematic and structured manner.

He said the instruments covered general cooperation, political consultations, visa exemptions, bilateral health services, investment promotion and protection, energy security and regional energy development, medicines security, regulatory cooperation, pharmaceutical supply and investment partnerships, as well as commerce and industry.

The visa exemption agreement is expected to abolish visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports, thereby facilitating official government exchanges. The bilateral health services agreement is expected to align pharmaceutical standards and enhance regulatory frameworks for drug safety.

In addition, the business-to-business agreement is expected to establish direct cooperation between Business Botswana and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen private sector commercial ties.

The air services agreement, meanwhile, is expected to promote and regulate safe, direct civil aviation links, improving transport, trade and tourism connections.

“These instruments and the signing thereof represent very significant milestones in deepening and broadening Botswana-Oman relations across these areas of mutual interest,” Dr Butale said.

He said the agreements aligned with Botswana’s national development priorities and would support increased trade and investment, industrial growth, economic diversification, technology and knowledge exchange, as well as create new opportunities for private sector-led partnerships.

Dr Butale said Botswana was committed to ensuring that the partnerships did not remain on paper but had a positive impact on the lives of people in both countries.

He further revealed that Botswana had decided to open a resident mission in Oman and would be proceeding in that direction.

In addition to the signed instruments, he said Botswana and Oman would sign an agreement on co-development heads of terms, providing a framework for cooperation in the mineral sector.

Dr Butale said the two countries also needed to agree on implementation metrics to facilitate follow-up, monitoring and accountability, ensuring that technical teams did not wait for the next meeting to address outstanding issues.

He said this was in line with guidance from President Duma Boko that the two nations should agree on implementation metrics to follow up and monitor the agreements.

“So me and you, my brother, we have our work cut out for us. We’ve got clear marching orders from our leaders,” he said.

Dr Butale said Botswana and Oman’s relationship was evolving rapidly, noting that the countries had already signed historic agreements less than a year after establishing diplomatic relations.

“We want to move with speed. Botswana is excited about the relationship and committed to it. In Botswana, Oman has found a trustworthy partner ready to move with agility,” he said.

“Our mantra these days is if there is an obstacle, if that obstacle is a law that stands in the way of our partnership progressing, that law must be changed. If that obstacle is a person, that person must be removed,” Dr Butale added.

He encouraged the Oman delegation to return to Botswana and visit the Okavango Delta.

For his part, Oman’s Foreign Minister, Mr Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, said Oman shared Botswana’s commitment and determination to advance the relationship and ensure the comprehensive implementation of the signed agreements and instruments.

“I can only echo the same level of commitment, sentiments, and the determination to move forward with this relationship and see the full comprehensive implementation of the agreements and the instruments that were signed this morning,” he said.

Mr Albusaidi said more instruments would hopefully be concluded along the way, adding that he would remained available to assist Botswana in Oman in addressing any blockages or issues requiring his intervention.

He said this would help smooth the way forward for the relationship and partnership so that tangible benefits could be felt as soon as possible by the people of both countries.

The minister thanked everyone who had played a meaningful role in fostering cordial relations between the two countries.

“The instructions by our leaders are well and clear and that there will be progress and milestones to be achieved along the path of the Oman and Botswana relationship. I, therefore, invite the people of Botswana to visit Oman. Some have already been there, but those who have not yet discovered the beauty of Oman will always be most welcome to visit,” he said.

The agreements form part of a broader expansion of cooperation between Botswana and Oman, including energy and mineral development. Earlier agreements between the two countries have included cooperation on a 500MW solar power plant, petroleum product storage facilities and mineral exploration. ENDS