22 Jul 2014

The new ambassador to Germany, Ms Tswelopele Moremi has presented her letters of credence to the president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Joachim Gauck as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Botswana in Germany.

A news release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation states that Ambassador Moremi is the first resident Ambassador of Botswana to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Previously, the country was accredited on non-residential basis from the Embassy of Botswana and Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium. Botswana and Germany established diplomatic relations soon after independence in 1966.

The release states that at the time, Botswana was a least developed country and received generous substantial technical and development assistance from Germany.

Some of the technical assistance that Botswana received ranges from water and sanitation, vocational training, human resource development, geological survey to wildlife, tourism and natural conservation.

“Germany also provided technical expertise to the Department of Roads and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning,” the release states.

The release further states that over the years, Botswana has placed great emphasis on economic diversification premised on a strong private sector participation, which enhanced its progressive status to an upper middle income country, given the importance of Germany as a powerful economy and a highly influential player in the European Union and the World.

The release states that following the successful official visit by President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama to Germany in February 2012, the government of Botswana decided to establish a resident embassy to further explore areas for economic cooperation in the areas of technology, research, energy, tourism and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). ENDS