08 Sep 2013

Envoys of Germany to Botswana, Mr Rolf Ulrich, Finland, Mr Petri Olavi Salo and Algeria’s Mr Belaid ABD-EL-Naceur on September 6 presented their letters of credence to President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama. 

The envoys had earlier paid courtesy call on the foreign affairs and international cooperation minister, Mr Phandu Skelemani.

Mr Skelemani briefed them that Botswana was in the process of diversifying from producing white collar jobs graduates to those with technical skills.

He said initially the country only focused on such jobs, but that it had since emerged that the market for technical jobs was needed especially with the relocation of the diamond trading activities from London to Botswana.

Mr Skelemani also said Botswana was also working on selling the country sufficiently to other through different initiatives and not only through government officials through its missions abroad as it has been the case. 

He also encouraged the ambassadors to familiarise themselves with the country in order to appreciate the country’s variety of tourism attraction areas and to appreciate the rural communities way of living.

Mr Skelemani also briefed the German ambassador that Government of Botswana will open a resident diplomatic Mission in Berlin later this year, which its opening will ensure that the two countries bilateral relationship continue to flourish.

For their part ambassadors said that cooperation and partnerships between their countries and Botswana were important and vowed to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations.

The Agerian ambassador commended Botswana for the progress made in terms of developments.

He also said Botswana was one of the best countries in Africa, in terms of its economic stability, freedom and that the country was a beacon of good governance to many countries in the continent.

Meanwhile Botswana and Germany have maintained cordial relations since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries in1974. 

The presence of a resident German Embassy in Gaborone has also contributed highly to the growth of the two countries bilateral relations particularly in the areas of Wildlife, Geological Survey; HIV/AIDS, and Vocational Education. 

The Finland ambassador said his country will support Botswana with technical skills manpower needed by the country. Ends