01 Oct 2026

President Advocate Duma Boko and Mozambican President Daniel Chapo have challenged the private sector of both nations to unlock new trade frontiers, capitalise on rich natural resources and fast-track long-awaited regional corridors.

Addressing the Botswana-Mozambique Business Forum recently, President Boko urged business leaders from both countries to design effective modes of interaction, power regional economic transformation and forge solutions that empowered their economies.

The President described the forum as a timely platform to deepen partnerships and strengthen longstanding bonds of friendship linked from time immemorial.

He emphasised that economic ties must be rooted in the conviction that Africa’s renewal depended on deeper solidarity and shared commitment to improving citizens’ livelihoods.

“Let the business forum mark a continuation of our friendship and a renewed commitment to action, enterprise and shared prosperity. Together, Botswana and Mozambique, can accomplish the transformative work that communities expect and do deserve,” President Boko said.

He added that the forum reflected both governments’ dedication to charting new pathways of cooperation, unlocking opportunity and building resilient, inclusive as well as globally competitive private sector-led economies, while encouraging stakeholders to refocus resources towards prospective investment sectors.

For his part, President Chapo highlighted both governments’ ambitious plans to drive inclusive growth through close collaboration and strong economic diplomacy, citing trade as central to achieving sustainable prosperity.

“We each have substantial natural resources and have also developed industrial capacity worth harnessing,” President Chapo said.

He cited several areas where greater cooperation would yield significant benefits, highlighting tourism as a ready ‘low-hanging fruit’ given both nations’ prominent profiles in the sector.

Crucially, President Chapo updated on the long-proposed Port Techobanine Inter-regional Heavy Haul Railway project, which was envisaged to move passenger traffic and cargo between Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 

He noted that the regional flagship project was set to gain fresh traction following the latest round of engagements, creating direct international trade route linking Botswana and Mozambique to eastern markets.

Meanwhile, to ground such future ambitions, trade flows between the two nations had experienced notable shifts over the years, with imports from Mozambique to Botswana having reached a peak of P1.1 billion (US$116, 681, 447) in 2016, while exports from Botswana to Mozambique stood at over P31 million (US$3, 185, 572) during the same year. 

By November 2021, imports from Mozambique stood at over P60 million (US$6, 024, 421), while exports to Mozambique fell to just over P29 million (US$2, 973, 122). ENDS